F0757

E

Medications Administered Without Corresponding Diagnoses

Hobbs, New Mexico Survey Completed on 01-30-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure residents’ drug regimens were free from unnecessary medications by not confirming that ordered drugs had appropriate indications based on current diagnoses. For one resident, admitted with diagnoses including atherosclerotic heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis of coronary artery bypass grafts, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease, the medical record contained an order for apixaban 2.5 mg orally twice daily for atrial fibrillation. Record review and interview with the DON confirmed that this resident did not have a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, and the DON acknowledged that this did not meet her expectations because medications should be ordered and administered only for diagnoses the resident has.

For another resident, admitted with diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus, bipolar disorder, essential hypertension, COPD, and rheumatoid arthritis, the current medical orders included memantine 10 mg (two tablets at bedtime) and Aricept 10 mg (one tablet at bedtime), both ordered for Alzheimer’s disease. Record review and the DON’s interview confirmed that this resident did not have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, despite receiving two medications specifically ordered for that condition. The DON stated that medications should only be ordered and administered for diagnoses the resident has, confirming that these orders did not align with the resident’s documented conditions.