Complaint Investigation Report

Regarding: Staff do not ensure medications are inaccessible to others in care.

It is alleged that staff often leave medications unattended in the dining room. It is alleged that a resident was given medication by Med-Tech staff; however, the resident did not take the medication and the medication remained on the table in the cup for over an hour. It is also alleged that this was not the first instance of medications being left accessible and unattended in the dining area.

The investigation revealed the following:

Thirteen (13) out (13) staff deny the allegation. Interviews with staff indicated, they have not observed medication left accessible and unattended in the dining room nor have they observed medication left accessible and unattended in any other location in the facility. Eight (8) staff stated that medication administration procedures require medication technicians to provide scheduled medications to residents in a small cup and provide them with drinking water and supervise the residents as they take it. Staff stated technicians cannot walk away from residents until they ensure residents consume their medications whether taken in the dining room, their rooms or anywhere else in the facility. Staff visually check to see if residents swallow medication before moving on to assist the next resident with their medication. If residents want to wait on taking their medication, staff cannot leave scheduled medication with residents. Staff take back medications, lock them in the medication cart and inform residents they will come back to give them their medication when they are ready to take it. Interviews with (12) out of (14) residents indicated they have not observed medication left unattended and accessible to residents in the dining room by staff nor have they observed medication left accessible to residents and unattended in any other location in the facility. Ten (10) residents who need assistance with medication administration stated, staff wait for residents to take their medication before they walk away and take back any medication not taken at the time. One (1) of (14) residents did not provide information regarding this allegation.