Failure to Hold Medications Outside Ordered Vital Sign Parameters
Summary
The facility failed to hold medications when residents’ vital signs were outside physician-ordered parameters and failed to notify the physician or NP when required. This affected 5 of 8 residents reviewed for medications with set hold parameters: Residents 20, 22, 53, 6, and 52. The report documents multiple instances in which metoprolol, midodrine, and insulin were administered or managed without following the ordered blood pressure, pulse, or blood sugar limits. Resident 20 had diagnoses including paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and portal hypertension, and the care plan addressed cardiovascular distress. The physician ordered metoprolol succinate ER 50 mg daily to be held for SBP less than 105 mmHg or heart rate less than 60 bpm, and blood pressure notification was required for SBP greater than 165 mmHg or DBP greater than 100 mmHg. The MAR showed metoprolol was given on multiple occasions when the pulse was below 60 and when blood pressure readings were below the hold parameters. The record also lacked documentation that the MD or NP was notified of an elevated SBP of 169. Resident 22 had diagnoses including interstitial pulmonary disease, orthostatic hypotension, and atherosclerotic heart disease, with a care plan for cardiovascular distress. The physician ordered metoprolol succinate ER 50 mg twice daily to be held if SBP was less than 100 or DBP was less than 60. The March 2026 MAR showed the medication was administered when DBP was 58 and 57. Resident 53 had diagnoses including acute respiratory failure with hypoxia and diabetes mellitus, with care plans for cardiovascular distress and blood sugar monitoring. The resident had an order for insulin lispro sliding scale with instructions to call the MD if blood sugar was greater than 400, but the MAR showed blood sugar readings of 478 and 461 without MD notification. The resident also had a metoprolol order to hold for SBP less than 105, DBP less than 60, or pulse less than 60, and the medication was administered on several occasions outside those parameters. Resident 6 had diagnoses including atrial fibrillation, aortic valve stenosis, chronic pulmonary edema, hypertensive heart disease, and CHF. The resident had orders for midodrine to be held if SBP was greater than 130 and metoprolol succinate to be held if SBP was less than 100 or pulse was less than 60. The record showed midodrine was held on several dates without a documented blood pressure reading, and metoprolol was administered when SBP was 98 on two occasions. Resident 52 had CHF and chronic pain syndrome, with an order for midodrine 10 mg every 8 hours to be held if SBP was greater than 125; the MAR showed the medication was administered when SBP was 127. Staff interviews confirmed that medications with set parameters were to be held and the physician notified when vital signs were outside ordered limits.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release October 8, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.
The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.