Failure to Ensure Timely Provision and Documentation of Controlled Medications
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured accurate acquisition, receipt, dispensing, and administration of medications for two residents, including an antiepileptic drug for a resident with epilepsy and dementia. Facility policy required that Schedule II medications be delivered only upon receipt of a faxed or original prescription, allowed emergency use of medications from the emergency supply with pharmacist authorization, and directed that Schedule II medications be reordered when a seven-day supply remained. For Resident 1, who had orders for lacosamide 100 mg by mouth every 12 hours for seizure management, the Controlled Substance Record showed 30 tablets received on December 29, 2025, with administration beginning January 1, 2026, and the last documented dose given on January 15, 2026, at 8:00 PM. The January 2026 MAR documented lacosamide doses on January 16 and 17 as “Hold/See Nurses Note,” and medication administration notes on January 16 and 17 indicated the lacosamide was on order, on back order, and not available, with repeated calls to the pharmacy. On January 17, nursing progress notes documented seizure activity for Resident 1. One note by an LPN at 10:40 PM described a seizure from 10:20 PM to 10:26 PM and stated that the pharmacy had earlier indicated the lacosamide would be sent, but later reported that a prescription was needed to dispense it. Another note by an RN at 11:20 PM documented a seizure lasting approximately 20–25 minutes, notification of the physician, and that the ordered lacosamide was not available, leading to an order to send the resident to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. A written statement from an LPN dated January 28, 2026, indicated that on January 16 the LPN called the pharmacy to report that the resident was out of lacosamide, that it had been ordered days prior, and that the pharmacy said it would be on the next delivery. On January 18, a nurse’s note recorded another seizure for Resident 1 lasting from approximately 7:06 AM to 7:23 AM, physician notification, review of medication concerns with the physician, a new order for Ativan 1 mg IM every 12 hours as needed for seizure activity, and a second transfer to the emergency room. The same note documented that EMS staff were informed of concerns regarding lacosamide, that a voicemail was left for the on-call pharmacist, and that prescriptions for lacosamide and Ativan were later signed and faxed to the pharmacy. Subsequent progress notes indicated that the pharmacy reported the last lacosamide delivery as December 28, 2025, with a 15-day supply, that the pharmacy already had a script for lacosamide, and that lacosamide and Ativan would be included in the next delivery. Resident 1 received a dose of lacosamide from the emergency medication supply on January 18 at 8:00 PM, and a new supply of 60 tablets was received on January 19, with administration resuming that morning. The record showed that Resident 1 had no seizure activity between August 3, 2025, and January 17, 2026, while receiving medications as ordered, and then experienced two seizures with two hospital transfers when lacosamide was not administered as ordered due to the pharmacy’s failure to provide the medication or timely communicate why it could not be supplied when initially ordered. Interviews with the Regional Director of Clinical Services and the DON confirmed that nursing staff had reordered lacosamide on January 12, 2026, that the pharmacy had an active prescription but overlooked filling it, that there was no documentation of pharmacy communication between January 12 and 17, and that staff could not access lacosamide from the emergency supply because the pharmacy would not provide an authorization code while stating there was no current script. For Resident 2, who had dementia and anxiety disorder and an order for Xanax 0.5 mg every 8 hours, a medication administration note on January 26, 2026, documented that Xanax was not administered while awaiting pharmacy delivery. A nurse’s note later that day recorded that an RN contacted the pharmacy about retrieving Xanax from the emergency medication supply and questioned whether two 0.25 mg tablets could be used to equal the ordered 0.5 mg dose; the pharmacy responded that medications must be dispensed as written. The RN then contacted the physician for further orders, and the pharmacy indicated the medication would be on the next delivery. Another note documented that the physician gave a one-time order for Xanax 0.25 mg, two tablets now. The Controlled Substance Record for Xanax showed the prescription was filled on January 25, 2026, but the Receipt Verification section was blank, and the first dose from that package was not administered until January 26 at 6:30 PM. In an interview, the DON stated she expected medications to be reordered when down to a five-day supply, expected timely dispensing and delivery or immediate notification of issues from the pharmacy, and expected staff to complete the Receipt Verification on controlled substance records. No additional information was provided regarding when staff reordered Xanax or the reason for the delivery delay.
Penalty
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The facility failed to ensure accurate pharmaceutical services for two residents and related medication storage and recordkeeping. An LPN administered a resident’s insulin glargine pen without priming it first, and a controlled medication log for another resident’s hydrocodone-acetaminophen did not match the blister pack count. In addition, a controlled substance reconciliation log for a medication aide cart had been signed before shift change, and an expired IV tubing supply was found in the LTC medication room.
Medication Error Not Investigated or Documented: The facility failed to investigate, document, and address a reported Zepbound medication error for a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses. The event report noted a wrong dose, but the record contained no clear explanation of what occurred, no documented root cause investigation, and no documented actions taken; the DON and RN both stated the process was incomplete, and the consultant pharmacist noted the expected documentation and follow-up for medication errors.
Controlled medications were not properly tracked because the narcotic accountability sheets in one medication cart had multiple entries without the required signatures from two nurses. During the audit, RN #1 and the DON both confirmed that two nurses should have signed the narcotic count sheets.
Controlled substance records were not properly maintained for the Hall A and Hall B medication carts because shift-change narcotic count signatures were missing on multiple occasions. LVNs stated that two nurses were not verifying the count by signing the book, and the DON, ADM, and CCN confirmed that missing signatures meant there was no proof the count was completed and accurate. The facility policy required a physical inventory of controlled meds at each shift change by two licensed nurses or an allowed nurse and med aide.
Incorrect Zyprexa Dose Remained Active on MAR: A resident with psychotic disorder and hallucinations had a Zyprexa dose reduced per MD order, but the prior 10 mg order was not discontinued and both the 5 mg and 10 mg doses remained active on the MAR. The MAR showed both doses were administered daily until clarification was entered, and the LVN stated he entered the new order but thought the old order had been discontinued.
A resident with ESRD, DM2, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and parkinsonism did not receive ordered Renvela for an extended period despite an active EMAR order. Review showed repeated hold periods and no doses administered across multiple months, while the dialysis RD said the medication was used for elevated phosphorus and had been filled previously. Staff interviews showed confusion about whether dialysis or the facility pharmacy should refill the medication, and the DON confirmed the medication was not readily available even though it should have been.
Pharmaceutical Services and Controlled Substance Recordkeeping Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services to meet resident needs and to ensure drug records were in order for two residents, one medication cart, and one medication room. Resident #8 had diagnoses including heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and his MDS documented severe cognitive impairment and insulin use. During a medication pass observation, an LVN administered 15 units of Insulin Glargine pen without priming the pen first. The LVN stated priming was important to ensure the pen was working properly and that failure to prime could affect the dose received. Resident #20 had diagnoses including asthma, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and sciatica, and her MDS documented severe cognitive impairment and active sciatica. During observation of the nurse cart, the controlled medication log for Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 7.5-325 mg did not match the blister pack count: the log showed 6 tablets should have been available, but the pack contained 5 tablets. The LVN stated the tablet should be logged out immediately after administration. The facility also observed that the controlled medication reconciliation log for the 500 hall medication aide cart had been signed in advance of the next shift change, and the medication aide stated it should not be signed early because the cart could be taken away and something could go missing. During observation of the LTC unit medication room, an expired IV tubing supply was found on the shelves with medication equipment and supplies. The LVN stated expired items should not be in the storage room, and the DON and Administrator both stated expired supplies should not be in the medication rooms. The facility policy for insulin pen use required a safety test before each injection, and the controlled medications policy required immediate documentation after administration and a physical inventory at each shift change.
Medication Error Not Investigated or Documented
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a reported medication error involving Zepbound for a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and diagnoses including morbid obesity, cerebral palsy, and obstructive sleep apnea was investigated, documented, and addressed in accordance with facility policy. The resident’s event report identified a wrong dose on 4/22/26, but the report did not identify any investigation into the event or any actions taken to prevent further events, and the medical record contained no further information about the incident. During interviews, the DON stated there was a lapse in the process and that an investigation was not completed. The DON reported staff explained the medication did not come from the pharmacy and that the resident did not receive the dose, although the event report stated wrong dose. RN-A also stated there was no documentation explaining what occurred or what actions were taken. The consultant pharmacist stated staff were expected to complete a thorough root cause investigation and analysis, with follow-up and detailed documentation for any medication error, including resident assessment, physician notification when indicated, monitoring for adverse effects, and measures to prevent recurrence. The facility policy stated that when a medication error occurs, the licensed nurse provides any necessary immediate care and notifies the attending provider and resident or resident representative when nursing or medical intervention, observation, or treatment is indicated, and that medication errors are tracked and trended for quality improvement purposes.
Incomplete Narcotic Count Documentation
Penalty
Summary
Controlled medications were not tracked and kept secure from potential theft and/or diversion because the facility failed to ensure the narcotic accountability sheets were properly signed by licensed nurses. During a medication cart audit, multiple dates were found on the narcotic accountability sheets without a documented on-coming or off-going licensed nurse signature, including several entries in late April, May, and early June. RN #1 stated that two nurses should have signed the narcotic accountability sheet and had not, and the DON also stated that two nurses should have signed off on the narcotic count sheets.
Missing Controlled Substance Count Signatures on Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to determine that controlled drug records were in order and that an account of all controlled drugs was maintained and periodically reconciled for the Hall A and Hall B medication carts. During record review, the narcotic books for both carts were found to have missing signatures documenting shift-to-shift controlled substance counts. On the Hall A medication cart, signatures were missing on 12/30/2025, 1/1/2026, 1/2/2026, 1/19/2026, 1/26/2026, 1/30/2026, 1/31/2026, 2/12/2026, 3/9/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/26/2026, and 4/2/2026. On the Hall B medication cart, signatures were missing on 5/3/2026 and 5/30/2026. During interviews, LVN G and LVN F stated that two nurses were not verifying the narcotic count by signing the book and that, if the count was off, there would be no way to know who to contact or verify that two nurses had counted the medications. The DON stated that when the narcotic book lacks signatures, the count could be incorrect and directly affect the medications the resident receives. The ADM stated missing shift-count signatures can result in an inaccurate count and lead to missing medication doses for residents. The CCN stated that without the narcotic sheet signatures, there is no physical proof that a medication count was completed and accurate. The facility policy required a physical inventory of controlled medications at each shift change by two licensed nurses or an allowed nurse and medication aide, documented on an audit record or accountability record.
Incorrect Zyprexa Dose Remained Active on MAR
Penalty
Summary
Pharmaceutical services were not provided to meet the needs of Resident #32 when the facility failed to discontinue an old Zyprexa 10 mg order after the dose was changed to 5 mg in the evening. Resident #32 was admitted with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder with hallucinations and was documented as rarely/never understood with severely impaired cognition. The resident’s care plan addressed psychotropic medication use and gradual dose reduction considerations, and a pharmacy recommendation was made to decrease Zyprexa from 10 mg to 5 mg in the evening, which was signed by the physician on 5/22/2026. The active order summary showed both Zyprexa 5 mg and Zyprexa 10 mg as active, and the MAR showed both doses were administered daily from 5/22/2026 until a clarification order was entered on 6/3/2026. During interview, LVN A stated he received the dose reduction order, notified the hospice provider, entered the new 5 mg order, and thought he had discontinued the 10 mg order, but did not know why it remained active. The DON stated the charge nurse was responsible for entering new orders into the MAR and later obtained clarification from hospice regarding the medication dose.
Failure to Provide Ordered Phosphate Binder
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services to ensure accurate acquiring, receiving, dispensing, and administration of medications for Resident #59, who was admitted with ESRD, type 2 diabetes mellitus with unspecified complications, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and parkinsonism. The resident’s annual MDS showed a BIMS score of 15, indicating intact cognition. Review of the EMAR showed an order for Sevelamer Carbonate (Renvela) 800 mg, 1 tablet by mouth before meals for disorders of phosphorus metabolism, with a start date of 04/17/2026, but the resident did not receive the medication from 04/18/2026 through 04/30/2026. Further review of the May 2026 EMAR showed the same Renvela order with multiple hold periods, and the resident did not receive any doses during that month. Review of the June 2026 EMAR showed the medication remained on hold and had not been administered from 06/01/2026 through the time of review. The dialysis RD stated the resident was on a fluid restriction and was prescribed Sevelamer Carbonate because of elevated phosphorus, that dialysis and the facility communicated through forms and faxed orders, and that the medication had been filled last on 03/27/2026 and 04/20/2026. Staff interviews revealed the facility believed dialysis normally refilled the medication, but the pharmacy said it could fill it if needed. The DON stated she did not know the resident had gone without the medication and confirmed the facility did not have it readily available even though it should have.
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