F0755

K

Failure to Reconcile and Account for Controlled Narcotics for Two Residents

Wewoka, Oklahoma Survey Completed on 03-05-2026

Penalty

Fine: $130,240

Summary

The facility failed to maintain an effective system for the receipt, disposition, and reconciliation of controlled narcotic medications, resulting in unaccounted controlled drugs for two residents. Facility policy required a system for receipt, storage, administration, counting, reconciliation, investigation of discrepancies, and destruction of all controlled substances, including verification by two authorized staff upon delivery and documentation of the initial count. However, for one resident with chronic pain, hypertension, and major depressive disorder, a pharmacy packing slip showed that 120 oxycodone/APAP tablets were delivered, but count sheets and medication cards for 90 tablets could not be located. The controlled drug count sheet for this resident showed only 30 tablets received and documented 19 administered doses that were not recorded on the MAR.

For this same resident, the Medication Log of Receiving did not reflect the oxycodone/APAP delivery, and the MAR for the relevant months showed only three administered doses, while the resident reported they had not taken the medication because they did not like how it made them feel and that the last dose was about two months prior. A CMA reported that their name had been forged on the narcotic count sheet on multiple days and stated the resident had only taken the first dose; this was reported to the administrator. Another CMA confirmed the issue was discovered during a cart count and that it was immediately reported to the administrator. Nursing staff, including an LPN, denied administering narcotics to this resident or signing the count sheet, and pharmacy staff confirmed the full quantity of 120 tablets had been delivered.

For a second resident with chronic pain and major depressive disorder, a physician’s order prescribed hydrocodone/APAP three times daily, and a pharmacy packing slip showed 90 tablets were delivered. The Medication Log of Receiving did not show that this delivery was logged, and a count sheet and medication card for 30 tablets were missing. When the resident’s controlled drug count sheets and packing slips for several months were reconciled with the ADON, 30 hydrocodone/APAP tablets were found to be unaccounted for, and the ADON stated there should have been three count sheets for one month but only two were located. The administrator acknowledged the facility had been without a full-time DON for an extended period during the time these discrepancies occurred, and staff interviews indicated that reconciliation practices were limited to matching the count sheet and card, with RNs usually responsible for medication reconciliation.