Illinois Nursing Homes Fined for Medication Errors
The Illinois Public Health Department recently fined two nursing homes for medication errors. One home was fined $25,000 and the other $12,500. One citation was for failing to give a resident the prescribed diabetes medication on two consecutive days immediately following the resident’s admission into the facility. Consequently, the resident was hospitalized and placed in intensive care due to having a life-threatening high blood-sugar level. Another resident in that same facility was not provided the medication prescribed to control an irregular heartbeat, placing him at risk for another stroke.
The second nursing home was fined for its failure to ensure that prescribed medications are given to the correct resident. In this incident, a 95-year-old resident was given another resident’s blood pressure and insulin medications, causing the resident’s heart rate to drop to 39 beats per minute. The resident was hospitalized for five days as a result of the error.
The administration of both facilities complained about the size of the fines. However, the investigators report included a statement from an advanced-practice nurse that indicated medication errors at the facility “have been a problem for a while” but no improvements have been initiated. A licensed practical nurse who gave the wrong medication to a resident told investigators that on her way to the correct resident’s room she stopped to talk to another staff member and then entered the wrong resident’s room.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to ensure that newly admitted residents receive their medications as ordered or to prevent residents from receiving the wrong medications places them in immediate jeopardy, may result in fines, and may be considered provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures regarding provision of prescribed medications on a timely basis to newly admitted residents and protocols for ensuring that prescribed medications are given to the correct residents.
- Train staff regarding policies and procedures designed to ensure prompt delivery of prescribed medications to newly admitted residents and to prevent distractions that contribute to medication errors.
- Periodically audit to ensure that newly admitted residents are receiving their medications on a timely basis and that protocols for accurate and safe medication administration are followed.
