Failure to Obtain Ordered Weekly Laboratory Tests During Antibiotic Therapy
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to obtain ordered laboratory tests and communicate results to the ordering practitioner for one resident. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including urinary tract infection, cord compression, extradural and subdural abscess, chronic kidney disease, an unstageable pressure ulcer, and diabetes. An admission MDS showed the resident had intact cognition but required extensive assistance with most activities of daily living, had an indwelling catheter, and was frequently incontinent of bowel. A physician’s order dated 12/04/25 directed that a CBC, electronic differential, platelets, BMP without glucose, and hepatic function panel be obtained weekly on Thursday mornings during Meropenem therapy, with results to be sent to the physician. Review of the medical record showed no evidence that the ordered labs were completed on 12/11/25 and 12/25/25, and in an interview the DON confirmed there was no evidence the labs were done as ordered. This was cited as an incidental finding of non-compliance under the referenced complaint number.
