Complaint Investigation Report

The details of the complaint alleged that the facility was not ensuring that the resident is given assistance with insulin injections because the resident doesn’t have proper use of one of their hands. On 04/18/24, from 09:00am-12:00pm, LPA interviewed staff (S1-S5) and residents (R1-R8) regarding the allegation. 5 of 5 staff denied the allegation that the Staff are not ensuring that resident is administered their medication(s) as prescribed. All staff (S1-S5) stated that they are ensuring that the resident is administered all medication as prescribed. S1-S5 stated that R1 requires insulin injections and that R1 is fully capable of giving R1 injections but wants others to do it. Staff state that the facility has an LVN on shift for eight hours and doesn’t mind helping the resident with the injections but when the LVN is not on the schedule R1 needs to give R1 the injection because the caregivers or the Med-Techs are not trained to give insulin injections.

S1 explained to R1 that the caregivers and Med-Techs are only allowed to give hand over hand assistance and R1 must inject the medicine by R1’s self, the staff cannot plunge the needle into R1’s flesh. LPA reviewed the Physicians Report LIC 602, and it states the resident was trained and can administer their own injections. LPA also reviewed the Pre-Placement Appraisal Information LIC 603, and it informs the resident that they can only assist the resident with hand over hand injection assistance and the resident agreed to this prior to moving into the facility. LPA interviewed R1-R8 about the allegation and 9 of 10 residents that were interviewed denied the allegation that Staff are not ensuring that resident is administered their medication(s) as prescribed. Most of the resident’s state that the facility staff advised them that the caregivers and Med-Techs are not allowed to plunge the needle into to them, only the LVN. Rather, they can assist with hand over hand assistance with injections of their insulin medication and that they have been trained to inject themselves by their primary care physician. They also state that the staff ensures that their medication is administered as prescribed.

Based on interviews and records reviewed, there is insufficient evidence to support the allegation that the Staff are not ensuring that resident is administered their medication(s) as prescribed. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is Unsubstantiated .