Delay in Dispensing and Administering Ordered Lice Treatment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely dispensing and administration of a prescribed medication for head lice for one resident. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including depression, anxiety disorder, insomnia, and homelessness, and had a Minimum Data Set indicating moderately impaired cognition, requiring setup assistance with eating and partial assistance with other ADLs. A physician’s order dated 12/26/2025 directed the use of a Permethrin/Nit Remover combination kit to be applied to the scalp one time for head lice, with instructions to reorder after seven days. Facility policies on administering medications and on ordering and receiving medications from the pharmacy both indicated that medications would be administered and received in a timely manner. During an interview and record review, an RN confirmed that although the lice medication was ordered on 12/26/2025, it was not administered until 12/29/2025, three days later. The RN stated that not administering the Permethrin as soon as it was ordered was unacceptable and that it should have been carried out right away. The DON stated that medication orders with instructions need to be implemented within 24 hours. As a result of this delay, the resident was not treated for head lice until three days after the infestation was identified, which the report states has the potential to cause uncomfortable itching and loss of sleep for the resident.
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