F0755

D

Delayed Delivery of Antiviral Medication for High-Risk COVID-19 Resident

Helena, Montana Survey Completed on 02-26-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide a prescribed antiviral medication in a timely manner to a resident with COVID-19. The resident had a chronic illness and was receiving chemotherapy for metastatic cancer. After the resident tested positive for COVID-19, the physician ordered Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral medication authorized for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for progression to severe disease. Nursing progress notes show that on the day after the positive test, staff documented that Molnupiravir was supposed to be delivered that morning, but by mid-afternoon it had not arrived from the pharmacy.

Later that night, nursing documentation shows that Molnupiravir was finally administered when it arrived from the pharmacy, resulting in a two-day delay in starting treatment for an acute illness. During an interview, a staff member reported that prescription medications were delivered from an out-of-state pharmacy and that there were times when medications were not delivered timely. The staff member stated they had received verbal confirmation that the medication for this resident had been received, but when they returned to work the next day, it had not been delivered. The staff member also explained that although the facility had an Omnicell and access to a local satellite pharmacy, they were dependent on the pharmacy to restock medications, and this resident’s case was cited as an example of not receiving COVID-19 treatment medication in a timely manner. The facility’s pharmacy services policy required collaboration with the pharmacy to ensure medications are requested, received, and administered in a timely manner and that routine and emergency pharmacy services are available 24/7.