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32 | Regarding the allegation: Staff are not following physician's orders
It was alleged that staff failed to follow physician’s orders for R1 and R2. Regarding R1, it was alleged that R1's fentanyl patch had not been changed every 72 hours as prescribed. The LPA reviewed hospice records for R1, and the LPA observed that the order for R1’s fentanyl patch stated that it was to be applied “transdermally every 72 hours for pain and remove per schedule”. When the LPA initially interviewed the Health Services Director on 07/27/2022, the staff stated that they had counseled staff on remembering to remove and assist R1 with applying a new fentanyl patch every 72 hours as instructed. Hospice notes revealed that a hospice representative had discussed this concern of failing to remove the fentanyl patch within 72 hours with staff on 06/27/2022.
During the initial visit on 07/27/2022, the LPA received a copy of R1’s electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) for July 2022. Staff indicated that for the fentanyl patch, staff technicians were required to document the dates and times that R1 was assisted with the self-administration of the fentanyl patch in the eMAR, and staff were required to hand-write when the patch was administered to R1 on the ‘Controlled Drug Record’ form. Staff indicated that the dates on the eMAR and Controlled Drug Record should match.
Per review of the eMAR on 07/27/222, staff indicated that R1 was assisted with the self-administration of the fentanyl patch on the following dates: 7/1/2022, 7/4/2022, 7/7/2022, 7/10/2022, 7/13/2022, 7/16/2022, 7/19/2022, 7/22/2022, and 7/25/2022. Per review of the eMAR alone, it would appear that R1 was assisted with the self-administration of the fentanyl patch every 72 hours as prescribed. On 07/27/2022, the LPA obtained the ‘Controlled Drug Record’ for July 2022. As previously stated, staff indicated that the dates on the eMAR and what was written on the Controlled Drug Record form should match. The ‘Controlled Drug Record’ form kept count of the fentanyl patches, as the patches were provided in quantities of five (5) from the pharmacy. Per review of the Controlled Drug Record form, staff documented that R1 was assisted with the self-administration of the fentanyl patch on the following dates: 7/3/2022, 7/8/2022, 7/10/2022, 7/14/2022, 7/16/2022, 7/19/2022, 7/22/2022, 7/25/2022.
Staff were unable to explain why the days did not align, specifically the days between 7/1/2022 – 7/14/2022. Staff believed that as the Controlled Drug Record form kept count of the fentanyl patches administered to R1, it was likely that the hand-written form was a more accurate representation of the dates and times of when the medication was administered. Staff also noted that there may have been a challenge with obtaining refills within the allotted time frame to ensure that R1 received the medication timely.
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