Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interview and record review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure an emergent MRR was completed as requested by the facility for a resident with increasing falls. This was true for 1 of 3 residents (Resident #10) who were reviewed for unnecessary medications. This created the potential for residents to experience adverse reactions from unnecessary psychotropic medications and increased falls. Findings include:
The facility's Unnecessary Medications and Psychotropic Drugs/ Antipsychotic Medication policy, dated 11/28/17, documented the pharmacist reviewed residents' medications monthly and in emergent situations. The policy was not followed.
Resident #10 was readmitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses which included repeat falls, Parkinson's disease, muscle weakness, schizophrenia, diabetes, and major depression single episode.
A quarterly MDS assessment, dated 10/18/18, documented Resident #10 was cognitively intact and required supervision while walking in her room or the corridor. The MDS assessment documented Resident #10 required extensive assistance of one staff member with bed mobility, transfers, toileting, and locomotion on and off the unit.
The care plan area addressing Resident #10's risk for falls, revised 8/28/18, documented she had a cognitive impairment, a history of falls, impaired balance, Parkinson's disease, and the use of psychotropic medications. The care plan documented Resident #10's medications were reviewed by the physician and the pharmacist, initiated 6/4/18.
Resident #10's clinical record documented she experienced 7 falls between 11/11/18 and 12/4/18.
Resident #10's 12/1/18 through 12/13/18 Active Physician orders, documented she received the following medications:
- Monitor BGs twice daily and notify the physician if BG was less than 60 or greater than 500 mg/dl, ordered 6/14/18.
- Novolog (Insulin Aspart) 12 units subcutaneously at lunch and dinner for diabetes, ordered 6/14/18.
- Buspar 15 mg by mouth three times a day for anxiety, ordered 7/25/18
- Clonazepam 0.25 mg by mouth at bedtime for anxiety, ordered 7/25/18
- Cymbalta 60 mg by mouth in the morning for depression, ordered 7/25/18
- Norco 5-325 mg tablet by mouth at bedtime for pain, ordered 7/25/18
- Lyrica 50 mg by mouth two times a day for neuralgia, ordered 7/25/18
- Hypoglycemia Protocol: follow the 15/15 rule of 15 grams of carbohydrates when the BG is below 70 mg/dl and recheck the BG in 15 minutes, ordered 7/25/18.
- Latuda 80 mg by mouth one time a day for schizophrenia, ordered 7/25/18 and discontinued 12/4/18
- Latuda 40 mg by mouth one time a day for schizophrenia, ordered 12/4/18
- Tresiba (Insulin Degludec) 50 units subcutaneously in the morning for diabetes, ordered 7/25/18 and discontinued 12/4/18.
- Tresiba (Insulin Degludec) 45 units subcutaneously at bedtime for diabetes, ordered 7/25/18, and discontinued 12/4/18.
- Tresiba (Insulin Degludec) 45 units subcutaneously in the morning for diabetes, ordered 12/4/18.
- Tresiba (Insulin Degludec) 40 units subcutaneously at bedtime for diabetes, ordered 12/4/18.
An I&A Report, dated 11/19/18 at 10:20 AM, documented Resident #10 experienced an unwitnessed fall from her chair in her room. She was found lying on her stomach with her head on her arms. The follow-up note, dated 11/20/18, documented nursing requested the pharmacist evaluate all of her medications.
A Change of Condition MRR Report, dated 11/23/18, documented Resident #10 was experiencing a new onset of worsening falls, dizziness, and impaired coordination. The medication review was based on the current pharmacy records and a complete chart review was not performed. The review documented three of Resident #10's medications were reviewed, Latuda, Clonazepam, and Sinemet. The report documented these medications increased a residents' fall risk and could cause potential hypotension (low blood pressure). The pharmacist documented Resident #10's Latuda and Clonazepam were for schizophrenia and a reduction had potential contraindications. The pharmacist did not include Resident #10's insulin, Cymbalta, Lyrica, Norco, and Buspar in the evaluation or the low BG levels she was experiencing.
According to the Nursing 2018 Drug Handbook, Buspar side effects included dizziness, drowsiness, light-headedness, tremors, decreased concentration, and confusion. The handbook documented Cymbalta's side effects included dizziness, anxiety, lethargy, and hypoglycemia. The handbook documented Clonazepam's side effects included confusion, hallucinations, slurred speech, dizziness, and abnormal coordination. The handbook documented Latuda's sides effects included dizziness, parkinsonism, and anxiety. The handbook documented Lyrica's side effects included dizziness, abnormal thinking, confusion, and hypoglycemia. The handbook documented Norco's side effects included dizziness, sedation, drowsiness, anxiety, hypoglycemia, hypoglycemic coma, and hypotension.
On 12/14/18 at 11:25 AM, the DNS with the Administrator present, stated the Latuda, Cymbalta, Clonazepam, Lyrica, Norco, and Buspar could potentially increase a residents' fall risk and she would look into why the pharmacist did not complete a full chart review.
Resident #10's behavior monitors were not specific for Resident #10 and did not inform staff of what Resident #10's behaviors were to monitor.
A Mental Health Progress Note, dated 10/2/18, documented Resident #10's thought process was intact, and her associations were logical. The note documented she had normal thought content and no hallucinations. The note documented she was oriented to situation, place, and person and her memory was intact.
Resident #10's 12/1/18 through 12/13/18 Active Physician orders, documented she received the following medications:
- Buspar 15 mg by mouth three times a day for anxiety, ordered 7/25/18
- Clonazepam 0.25 mg by mouth at bedtime for anxiety, ordered 7/25/18
- Cymbalta 60 mg by mouth in the morning for depression, ordered 7/25/18
- Latuda 40 mg by mouth one time a day for schizophrenia, ordered 12/4/18
Resident #10's care plan did not include specific behaviors and did not identify or include depression.
The care plan area addressing Resident #10's psychotropic medications, revised 8/28/18, documented she received Buspar for anxiety, Cymbalta for pain and depression, Clonazepam for anxiety, and Latuda for Schizophrenia related to her behavior management. The care plan documented an intervention to include the facility was to monitor Resident #10 for target behaviors of calling out to staff and not using her call light when staff pass by her room, falsely accusing staff of things, and perseverating on staff, revised 6/1/18. The care plan did not identify which medications the target behaviors were for and did not document she experienced hallucinations or delusions.
Resident #10's care plan addressed cognition, dated 8/28/18, documented a goal of Resident #10 being free of hallucinations. The care plan documented staff would administer her medications as ordered.
Resident #10's care plan did not identify if Resident #10's hallucinations and/or delusions were tactile (touch), visual, auditory, and/or olfactory (smell). Her care plan was not resident specific and did not document clearly how her hallucinations or delusions presented. The care plan did not document if her hallucinations or delusions were harmful to her.
Resident #10 did not have a care plan specific to her anxiety or depression. The facility did not identify how Resident #10's anxiety or depression presented.
Resident #10's behavior monitors did not match the target behaviors identified in her care plan. Examples include:
Resident #10's 11/1/18 through 12/13/18 ADL Flowsheets documented behaviors witnessed by CNA staff. The CNA staff documented different behaviors than identified on the care plan. The following behaviors were monitored by the CNAs.
- The flowsheets sheets directed staff to document Yes or No if Resident #10 experienced hallucinations. Resident #10 experienced hallucinations on 11/4/18, 11/12/18, 11/13/18, 11/16/18, 12/2/18, 12/4/18, and 12/10/18.
- The flowsheets sheets directed staff to document Yes or No if Resident #10 experienced delusions. Resident #10 experienced delusions on 11/4/18, 11/8/18, 11/12/18, 11/13/18, 11/14/18, 11/16/18, 11/27/18, 11/29/18, 12/2/18, 12/3/18, 12/4/18, and 12/10/18.
The behavior monitors did not identify how her hallucinations or delusions presented or how they were harmful to her.
The flowsheets directed staff to document when Resident #10 had repretitive negative statements and/or questions/noises, sought attention, repetitive physical movement, unrealistic fears, paranoid behavior/delusions, and/or restless pacing. The flowsheets documented the following:
- Repetitive negative statements on 11/30/18
- Repetitive questions/noises on 12/6/18
- Seeks attention 11/1/18, 11/5/18, 11/7/18, 11/9/18, 11/11/18, 11/16/18, 11/17/18, 11/22/18, 11/23/18, and 12/11/18
- Repetitive physical movement on 11/3/18 and 11/9/18
- Unrealistic fears on 11/3/18, 11/4/18, 11/5/18, 11/13/18, 11/14/18, 11/26/18, 11/27/18, and 11/10/18
- Paranoid behavior/delusions on 11/8/18, 11/16/18, and 12/2/18
Resident #10's record did not identify how her anxiety presented.
Resident #10's clinical record did not include a behavior monitor for depression.
On 12/14/18 at 11:45 AM, the DNS with the Administrator present, stated the CNAs were monitoring Resident #10 for delusions, hallucinations, and anxiety. The DNS stated she would look for documentation on how Resident #10's delusions, hallucinations, and anxiety presented. The DNS stated she would look into where the target behaviors identified on the care plan were monitored.
The CNAs and nursing staff were not monitoring Resident #10 for calling out to staff and not using her call light when staff pass by her room, falsely accusing staff of things, and perseverating on staff.