Failure to Provide Timely and Appropriate Pain Management
Penalty
Summary
A resident with chronic pain syndrome and osteoarthritis, who was cognitively intact, experienced inadequate pain management during their stay. The resident repeatedly expressed severe back pain, rating it as 9 out of 10, and requested to be transferred to bed for relief. Staff initially denied the request, instructing the resident to remain in their chair for dinner. When the resident was eventually transferred to bed, they continued to report severe pain and requested pain medication. The resident stated that the scheduled Tylenol was ineffective and that they were not receiving it as needed. Upon assessment, the LPN confirmed that there were no PRN pain medications available and that the next scheduled dose of Tylenol was not due for several hours. Although the resident's pain was assessed and the provider was notified, no immediate pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions were offered at the time, despite standing orders for topical pain relief and documented non-pharmacological options such as repositioning, back rubs, music, or diversional activities. The DON and Administrator later confirmed that a pain level of 9 should be addressed promptly and that non-pharmacological interventions should have been implemented.