Inspection Findings:
Based on observation, interview, and record review, conducted during a site visit on 12/04/23, 12/05/23, 12/07/23, 12/08/23 and 12/11/23, and an interview on 12/13/23, it was confirmed the facility failed to ensure adequate professional oversight of the medication and treatment administration system, carry out medication orders as prescribed, and keep an accurate Medication Administration Record (MAR) for 18 of 18 sampled residents (#s 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 24, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36). Resident 12 experienced a decline in health when routine medications were not administered as prescribed.1) On 12/08/23, Witness 1 (Family Member), approached the LCU team during their site visit. S/he stated s/he was very concerned and had "never seen a decline" for Resident 12 before. A review of Resident 12's record indicated the following: Hospice provider notes, dated 12/05/23, indicated Resident 12 had experienced a decline in his/her health status, to include increased shortness of breath, wheezing, bilateral lower-extremity edema, and anxiety. On 12/06/23, "Outside Agency Documentation" left by the hospice RN indicated "worsening of [heart failure], adjusted furosemide (may be [routine] meds not given)." "...increase Furosemide to 40mg for 3 days ..."During an interview on 12/08/23, Witness 6 (Family Member) stated s/he was "worried" about Resident 12 because s/he did not seem to be him/herself, that s/he was usually "alert" and "cheerful," and that Resident 12's "demeanor and breathing had changed drastically." On 12/08/23 at approximately 10:30 am Resident 12 was observed to be slouched over in his/her wheelchair, visibly short of breath, somnolent, and barely verbal, unable to answer questions. On 12/08/23 Staff 3 (LPN) stated s/he was aware Resident 12 "was out of baseline," however s/he had received his/her "first dose [of Furosemide] this morning." There was no documented evidence Resident 12 had received any Furosemide on the morning 12/08/23. MAR documentation indicated the medication was "pending refill."On 12/08/23, outside provider notes from hospice indicated "Worsening [bilateral lower extremity] edema and now up thighs, thready radial pulses, irregular [heart rate]. Cardiac meds had not been administered by staff since 11/20 ... continues to have significant [bilateral lower extremity] edema, dyspnea at rest, audible congestion in lungs, denies pain, furosemide increase (ordered 12/6) started today 12/8."Resident 12's MAR, dated 11/01/23 through 12/08/23, indicated the following:- 11/19/23 through 11/23/23 Atorvastatin 80mg, Furosemide 20mg, Losartan 25mg, Metoprolol 12.5mg, not administered, pending refill;- 11/24/23 all four medications, not administered, refused, when medication was not available;- 11/25/23 all four medications, not available;- 11/26/23 all four medications, not administered, pending refill;- 11/27/23 all four medications, administered,when medication was not available ;- 11/28/23 all four medications, not administered, pending refill;The following was documented in the Resident's progress notes: * 11/20/23, staff documented, "many medications we had run out of for [Resident 12]" and "they will be here on the next delivery later today."* On 12/06/23, staff documented Resident 12's pharmacy had been contacted to refill Furosemide, however there were no refills left, and hospice was called to send refills to pharmacy.The facility's failure to administer medications as prescribed led to a decline in Resident 12's health and placed the resident at risk for further decline.On 12/08/23 at 12:31 pm the LCU team requested an immediate plan of correction. A plan of correction was received at approximately 6:00 pm and the situation was abated. 2) A review of Resident 1's physician orders, dated 11/01/23 through 11/30/23, indicated the following:*A physician order, dated 11/15/23, indicated Resident 1's Jardiance (antidiabetic) was to be increased from 10mg to 25mg beginning 11/15/23. There was no documented evidence the increased dose had been administered until 11/21/23.*A physician order dated 11/17/23, indicated Resident 1was to continue 100mcg Levothyroxine (thyroid agent).Resident 1's MAR, indicated the following:* Resident 1 received 88mcg Levothyroxine and 100mcg Levothyroxine on 11/10/23 and 11/11/23;*Levothyroxine 100mg was not administered November 12th and 13th, notes indicated " do not have correct strength dose " ; and*11/15/23 Levothyroxine not administered; notes indicated " med tech walked out" .3) Resident 2's, MAR, dated 12/01/23 through 12/13/23, indicated the following:*Missed doses of Amlodipine (blood pressure) on 12/07/23 through 12/09/23. Notes indicated "medication unavailable "or "pending refill" ; and*No documented evidence 8:00 pm medications had been administered on 12/11/23.4) A review of Resident 5's MAR, dated 11/01/23 through 11/30/23, indicated the following:*On 11/07/23, Levothyroxine (thyroid) was not administered, notes indicated "pending refill";*There was no documented evidence Resident 5 received Levothyroxine on 11/02/23 or 11/10/23;*On 11/28/23, 2:00 pm dose of Morphine ER 15mg had not been administered. Staff documented "med not passed by previous shift"; and*There was no documented evidence Resident 5 received his/her Morphine ER at 9:00 pm on 11/29/23 and 11/30/23.5) A review of Resident 6's physician orders and 11/01/23 through 11/30/23 MAR indicated the following:*A physician order dated 11/03/23, indicated a decrease in quetiapine (psychotropic) from 100mg to 50mg;*Between 11/04/23 and11/06/23 the resident was administered 100mg quetiapine; and *There was no documented evidence Resident 6 received quetiapine on 11/07/23.6) A review of Resident 8's MAR, dated 11/01/23 through 12/18/23, indicated the following:*Lidocaine 5% (pain reliever) had a "start date" of 10/11/23;*There were thirty five instances where Lidocaine had not been administered with MAR notes indicating "pending refill;", "refused" when medication was not available, "unavailable", or "discontinued."*There were 17 instances where Lidocaine was marked as administered, in between the instances where the medication had been noted as "refused", "unavailable", or "discontinued."*Four instances where Resident 8 was not administered Acetamin (pain reliever). Staff documented "Other: Cannot find. Looked through entire cart," "Other: Day shift", "Other: Morning dose not administered," and "Med not available-not in pharmacy formulary";*Three instances where Resident 8 was not administered Carbamazepine 100mg/5ml (for behaviors). Staff documented "pending refill," "Other: Staffing issue, morning pass too late to administer before last dose, " and "Other: Unable to locate meds; "*Twenty-eight instances where Venlafaxine ER 150mg (anti-depressant) had not been administered. Staff documented, "pending refill," "Other: Cannot find in cart," and "Other: Cannot find will order,". There were several instances where staff documented the medication had been administered and/or refused when the medication had not been available.*Eighteen missed doses of Cephalexin 500mg (antibiotic). Staff documented " pending refill, " "Other: No more cards," "Other: Could not find," " not available, " "Other: 7 days over," "Other: Cannot locate; " and "Med not available-not in pharmacy formulary";*Three instances where Quetiapine 50mg (psychotropic) was not administered, notes indicated " pending refill " and " other: reordering; " and*At least one missed dose of Divalproex 125mg (anticonvulsant) at 8am, Briviact 10mg (anticonvulsant), Atorvastatin 80mg (cholesterol medication), Doxycycline Monohydrate (antibiotic) Lisinopril 40mg (blood pressure medication, and Buspirone 5mg (psychotropic medication). Notes indicated " pending refill, " "Other: Staffing issue, morning pass too late to administer before last dose, " "Not available, " "Med not available-not in pharmacy formulary, " and "Med not available - backorder."7) A review of Resident 9's MAR, dated 11/01/23 through 12/07/23, indicated the following:*Fifteen instances where Resident 9's Oxycodone IR 5mg (pain reliever) was not administered. Notes indicated "pending refill," "Other: Med not passed by previous shift," "Not available, " and "Other: Resident stated doctor wanted her to stop taking medication;"*Four instances where Resident 9's daily vitals were not taken. Notes indicated "No MT here at the time," "Other: Med not passed by previous shift," or there were no notes.*Two instances where Cephalexin 500mg (antibiotic) was not administered, notes indicated "No MT here at the time" and "pending refill."*Four instances where Mirtazapine 15mg (for dementia) was not administered, notes indicated " pending refill; "*One missed dose of Propanolol 10mg (anxiety medication). Notes indicated "Other: Med not passed by previous shift " ; and*One missed dose of Acetaminophen 325mg (for fracture). Notes indicated "Not available."8) Resident 14's clinical record was reviewed and indicated: *Physician orders for Resident 14, dated 11/16/13, instructed the facility to discontinue routine dose of Lorazepam and change his/her diet to mechanical soft. There was no documented evidence the order had been implemented until 11/22/23, when a temporary service plan was put in place. A review of Resident 14 ' s MAR, dated 11/01/23 through 11/30/23, indicated: *Resident 14 had not received any doses of Lorazepam between 11/01/23 and 11/20/23 when staff were instructed to discontinue the medication. *There were eight occurrences where Resident 14 did not receive Levetiraceta Sol (anticonvulsant). Notes indicated "Not available," "New RX needed-MD Faxed" "Pending refill" "Other: Med tech walked out;"*On 11/15/23, the following am medications were not administered: Acetaminophen 500mg (scoliosis), Amlodipine 2.5mg (blood pressure), Levetiraceta Sol, and Metoprolol (blood pressure). Notes indicated " Other: Med tech walked out " ;9) A review of Resident 15's physician orders and 09/01/23 through 11/30/23 MAR's indicated the following:*A 09/08/23 physician order instructed staff to " Start Clonazepam 1 whole tablet (0.5mg) twice a day for agitation. Discontinue all prior clonazepam orders and remove them from MAR. "The MAR, dated 09/01/23 through 09/30/23, indicated:*Clonazepam orders had been entered nine different times on the MAR;*On 09/11/23, the MAR indicated Resident 15 was administered Clonazepam three times, instead of the twice daily ordered;*There was no indication Resident 15 received Clonazepam on 09/15/23.*Physician orders, dated 11/03/23, indicated Resident 15's Donepezil 10mg was to be discontinued, and Memantine 10mg dose (Alzheimer medication) discontinued. Memantine 5mg was to start on 11/07/23. Documentation on the MAR indicated Resident 15 was administered Donepezil on 11/04/23 and 11/05/23, after it had been discontinued. *Seven missed doses of Memantine 5mg, notes indicated " Other: Do not have this med in new dose strength," " Other: We do not have new dose strength," " Med not available - Backorder";*On 11/15/23, MAR indicated Resident 15's routine am medications had not been administered, which included Risperidone 0.5mg (psychotropic) Citalopram 20mg (psychotropic), Clonazepam 0.5mg (for agitation);and Memantine 5mg. Notes indicated "Other: Med Tech walked out." *A physician order, dated 11/07/23, indicated Resident 15 was prescribed Haloperidol 1mg" take 1 tablet by mouth every 4 hours as needed for agitation or nausea and/or vomiting."An "End of Shift Report" dated 11/23/23 indicated Resident 15 had vomited prior to dinner, had not eaten, and MT was notified. There was no documented evidence Resident 15 had been administered Haloperidol as prescribed. 10) A review of Resident 18's MARs, dated 11/01/23 through 11/30/23 indicated the following:*Resident 18 ' s blood pressure had not been taken on 11/14/23. Staff documented "Pending refill";*11/14/23 9:00 am routine dose of Amlodipine was not administered. Notes indicated "Pending refill" ;*Atorvastatin 10mg at 9:00 am dose had not been administered on 11/04/23 through 11/06/23, and on 11/14/23. Staff documented "Pending refill " ;*9:00 am dose of Lisinopril 30mg and Metoprolol Succ ER 50mg had not been administered on 11/14/23. Notes indicated "Pending refill" and .*No monthly weight was recorded during the month of November 2023. 11) A review Resident 21's clinical records indicated the following:*On 12/01/23 the hospice RN documented Resident 21 had not been administered routine Seroquel and Omeprazole for a "period of time " and confirmed with a facility MT "no supply was available" The hospice RN also documented " As pt has gone sometime (>2 wks?) w/o Seroquel, new orders will be updated. Please call us - if refills are not arriving from Pharmerica."* A Medication Incident Report, dated 11/30/23, indicated Resident 21 had been administered the "wrong dose" of Quetiapine Fumarate 50mg (psychotropic). (The prescribed dose was 12.5mg, twice daily at 9:00 am and 6:00 pm). -Staff 3 (LPN) asked Staff 10 (MT) how s/he was administering the 12.5mg tabs. Staff 10 stated s/he was " cutting the 50mg tablets in half and then cutting the [halves] into half. " The medication was not scored to be broken into quarters. *Resident 21's 09/01/23 through 09/30/23 MAR indicated:-Four instances of Cyclobenzaprine 10mg (prescribed for pain) not being administered. Notes indicated " Med not available - backorder " and " Pending refill;" and* Residents 21's 10/01/23 through 10/31/23 MAR indicated:-One instance of Allopurinol 100mg (for osteoporosis) not being administered. Notes indicated " Med not available - backorder " ;-One instance of SMZ/TMP 800mg/160mg (anti-infective agent) not being administered. Notes indicated " Other: Cannot find " ; and-One instance of Quetiapine 50mg not being administered. Notes indicated " Pending refill. "* Resident 21's 11/01/23 through 11/30/23 MAR indicated: -Eight instances of Omeprazole 20mg (gout agent) not administered. Notes indicated " Pending refill; "-Seven instances of Quetiapine 50mg not administered. Notes indicated " Pending refill," "Not available," "Med not available - backorder;" and-Ten instances of Quetiapine 25mg (psychotropic medication prescribed for distressing paranoia) not administered. Notes indicated "Not available" and "Pending refill." 12) A review of Resident 24's clinical records indicated: *A physician order from June 2023 regarding Warfarin (anticoagulant) dosages indicated Resident 24 was to receive one 5mg tablet on 06/12/23. There was no documented evidence Warfarin was administered on 06/12/23. *Resident 24's 06/01/23 through 06/30/23 MAR indicated 3 missed doses of Sertraline (for depression) 25mg on 06/28/23, 06/29/23, and 06/30/23. Notes indicated "Pending refill."A review of Resident 24's 08/01/23 through 08/31/23 MAR indicated: *Warfarin 2.5mg was to be administered three times a week on Tues, Thurs, & Sat effective 08/07/23 through 08/21/23. There was no documented evidence Warfarin 2.5mg was administered on 08/15/23;*Warfarin 2.5mg was to be administered in addition to the 5mg dose given the morning of 08/28/23. There was no documented evidence the dose had been administered. *Resident 24 ' s INR (International Normalized Ratio) was to be completed on 08/14/23. There was no documented evidence the INR had been completed. *On 08/24/23, 08/26/23 and 08/29/23, Warfarin 5mg had not been administered. Notes indicated "Pending refill."During an interview on 12/04/23, Witness 1 (Family Member) stated the following:*The facility had once double dosed Resident 24 with Warfarin in October 2022;*The facility had once not given Resident 24's Warfarin to him her for four days in a row around the same time;*The facility had been unable to get Resident 24's medications right, and "screwed it up so many times we had to take [Resident 24] off Warfarin."13) Resident 29's clinical records indicate the following: Resident 29's MAR, dated 08/01/23 through 08/31/23, indicated:*Two instances of Memantine 10mg not given, notes indicated pending refill;*Two instances of Pantoprazole 40mg not given, notes indicated pending refill.Resident 29's MAR, dated 10/01/23 through 10/31/23, indicated:*Three instances of Morphine 20mg not given, notes indicated " other: one bottle empty, second bottle contaminated " and " resident difficult to wake during lunch; "*Two instances Pantoprazole not given, notes indicated pending refill;*Two instances Acetaminophen not given, notes indicated pending refill;*Four instances Senna 8.6mg tab not given, notes indicated pending refill;*10/14/23-10/16/23 Sertraline 100mg not given, notes indicated pending refill;*10/17/23 Sertraline 100mg not given, notes indicated refused (when the facility was out of the medication); and*10/18/23 through 10/30/23 Sertraline 100mg not given, notes indicated pending refill.Resident 29's MAR, dated 11/01/23 through 11/31/23, indicated the following:*Ten instances of Senna 8.6mg not given, notes indicated pending refill*Seven instances of Sertraline 100mg not given, notes indicated pending refill*15 instances of Acetaminophen 500mg not administered;*Five instances where it was not indicated whether or not Resident 29 had received Levothyroxine 125mcg with no notes;*All 9:00 am medications on 11/15/23 indicated as not given: staff walked out;*Two instances of donepezil 10mg not administered, notes indicated pending refill and "cannot find".Resident 29's MAR, dated 12/01/23 through 12/11/23, indicated the following:*Five instances where there was no documented evidence Resident 29 had received Levothyroxine 125mcg;*Pantoprazole 40 mg not given 12/07/23 through 12/10/23, notes indicated pending refill or unavailable;*Sertraline 100mg not given 12/09/23 and 12/10/23, notes indicated pending refill;*2 instances there was no documented evidence Resident 29 had received his/her regularly scheduled Morphine;Progress notes for Resident 29, dated 12/11/23, indicated the following:*Late entry for 12/09/23;*"Reason for visit: comfort check, see if morphine orders have been started;"*"Identified concerns and recommended actions taken to resolve: Morphine 20mg/ml by mouth every 4 hours in addition to PRN order for MS. Ordered on November 22nd, still has not been [implemented]. Please start ASAP resent to ... facility & fax on 12/09".There was no documented evidence Resident 29's increase in Morphine had been implemented until 12/11/23.14) Resident 31 ' s MAR, dated 08/01/23 through 08/31/23 indicated the following:*Seven instances of quetiapine 25mg not given, notes indicated pending refill; and*Two instances of metoprolol 25mg not given, notes indicated pending refill.15) Resident 32's MAR, dated 08/01/23 through 08/31/23, intructed staff to weigh Resident 32 every two weeks for weight loss. On 08/15/23 Resident 32 was not weighed, notes indicated "unable to obtain."16) Resident 34 ' s MAR dated 11/01/23 through 11/30/23 indicated Eucerin Oring LOT Healing (topical agent) marked as pending refill 11/06/23 and 11/07/23, then "refused" until it was marked "unable to safely swallow" on 11/21/23.17) Clinical records for Resident 36 indicated:*A physician order dated 11/17/23, Donepezil (for dementia) to be increased to 10mg from 5mg.*There was no documented evidence Resident 36 received Donepezil 10mg until 12/01/23.18) During an interview on 12/04/23, Staff 9 (Activities) former Resident Care Coordinator, stated the facility protocol for processing medication orders was as follows:*The facility received a physician order;*The physician order was then faxed to the pharmacy;*The order was then put into MT's "first check box", and MT would ensure pharmacy populated the medication onto the MAR so the medication could be administered;*Once the medication was "profiled" on the MAR, the RCC would ensure the MAR matched the physician order; and*The RN would then conduct "third checks" to ensure the medication on hand matched the order and the MAR.Staff 9 further stated s/he had "found a bunch of orders" and had begun processing them. The facility had been behind on orders for a while because an old RCC was putting orders in his/her desk and not completing the second checks. Staff 9 confirmed Resident 15 had several medications pending refill that had not been refilled and Resident 27's Olanzapine had been discontinued by a physician order, but had not been discontinued on his/her MAR.19) Staff, witnesses, and outside providers stated the following during interviews conducted during the site visit:On12/04/23, Staff 7 (CG) stated s/he had been asked by a med tech to pass medication to a resident with no supervision or training.On 12/05/23, Staff 8 (Med Tech) stated the following:- Residents miss medications because the facility is out of stock;- Med techs do "first checks" for physician orders by reviewing the orders and seeing if they're in the system, then moving them to "second checks". S/he further stated the medications have to go through all three checks before med techs can administer the medication.- "Half the time we have the order and not the meds;"- "I've seen [staff] mark meds as given when we were out of stock;"- S/he had seen meds marked as refused without an attempt to administer medications;- There had been a time when medications received from the pharmacy had been misplaced and staff had to search the building to locate them;- S/he had seen an employee give a resident another resident's medication when the first resident was out of stock on a medication; and- S/he had been called in on 11/15/23 at 10:30 am to cover a shift because both morning med techs had left. No residents in the 100 or 200 halls received am medication that day.On 12/05/23, Staff 14 (Med Tech) stated the following:- A "couple of weeks ago" the facility had run out of CBG test strips. An employee had brought more in at the end of Staff 14's shift.- S/he has found medications in the wrong drawer;On 12/05/23, Staff 3 (LPN) stated s/he was behind on processing physician orders, and had about 40 to process.On 12/07/23, Staff 15 (Med Tech) stated the following:- S/he had observed med techs popping pills into their bare hands;- S/he was told by management "we could take meds for other residents if it was the same dose, [management] told me that when I first started";- Med techs would mark medications as "not found" when the medications were available and "given" when they were not available;- A couple med techs "will only try to give meds once to difficult residents then give meds to a [caregiver] and leave;" and- S/he had finished the 9 am med pass "a little past 10" in the 300 hall and "later" in the 400 hall.On12/07/23, Staff 18 (Med Tech) stated the following:- Medications were marked as administered when they were not because the facility was out of stock;- There were medications that would have dates to pop the pills out of the card, such as antibiotics, and s/he would come back from his/her weekend and find the pills un-popped;- There were around 70 physician orders pending review;- "We were just told Tuesday to approve orders;"- "I figured out how to [discontinue] orders but I can't approve;"- If medications were not approved, they could not be administered; and- One time the housekeeper put "all the meds in random spots and we couldn't find them."On 12/07/23 Staff 10 (Med Tech) stated s/he had seen a medication card for Ibuprofen with the resident's name ripped off in the med cart. S/he further stated s/he had cut an unscored medication in order to administer the correct dose to Resident 15.On 12/08/23, Witness 14 (Hospice RN) stated the following:- His/her biggest challenge over the last six months was orders being given to the facility and big delays in their implementation. Med techs had told her they had to wait for approval before enacting changes;- Resident 16's diet requirements had been changed from mechanical soft to puree on 10/04/23, and the change had not been made until 10/11/23;- There had been a huge delay in starting Resident 20 on his/her Tizanidine; and- The facility had not notified him/her of medication errors for Resident 20.On 12/13/23, Witness 17 (Hospice Compliance Specialist) stated the following:- His/her hospice agency had 13 primary care patients at the facility, including two patients on hospice;- The hospice agency was sending a care provider on a daily basis because of ongoing concerns with the facility;- Resident 25 had not received coumadin in August and September;- Resident 25's personal care provider (PCP) had tried to get ahold of the facility for about month;- Resident 25 was admitted to the hospital on 09/12/23 with an INR of 1;- Upon Resident 25's return to the facility on 09/14/23, the facility had called the pharmacy asking how to acquire INR test strips;- Resident 25 had been receiving a hypertensive despite a hold order;- The facility had started an order for Risperidone for Resident 36 on 11/08/23. Resident 36's hospice nurse and PCP did not know where the order had originated from;- The hospice agency had discovered the order for Risperidone was from November 2022;- The facility discontinued the order on 12/05/23;- On 11/07/23, the hospice agency's nurse manager submitted a refill for sertraline for Resident 29;- Resident 29 was not administered sertraline for seven days;- Resident 29's order for morphine was changed 11/22/23, the facility did not make the change until 12/07/23;- Resident 19 had missed doses of Warfarin multiple times in September 2023 and October 2023, including from 09/20/23 through 09/27/23;It was determined the facility failed to ensure adequate professional oversight of the medication and treatment administration system, carry out medication orders as prescribed, and keep an accurate Medication Administration Record (MAR) .Findings of the investigation were reviewed with and acknowledged by Staff 1 (Regional Director of Operations), Staff 2 (Regional Director of Health Services), Staff 5 (Executive Director), and Staff 29 (CEO) on 12/11/23.Plan of correction: On 12/08/23 facility was requested by the Department to put an immediate plan of correction in place.