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32 | Interview with former staff revealed that there were no medication technicians that provided liquid morphine via syringe to residents. Medication Technicians (med tech) were trained only to provide capsules and tablets and were aware that either the Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN’s) or the resident’s hospice nurses were the assigned medical professionals who were able to administer injections to the residents. Staff interviewed revealed that they do assist residents with their insulin medications, but they use the flex-pens which the residents administer themselves. The staff said that they assist residents with hand over hand if the resident is in need, but the residents are responsible for administering their insulin flex-pen themselves; staff merely place their hands over the residents’ hand to assist them, but residents will push the flex-pen themselves. According to staff, they receive training via their internal system, then conduct shadowing for about two weeks and finally conduct an examination to complete their training. According to staff, they do have a third- party vendor who provides staff training on medications at least every six months or on an as needed basis. Current MARs show that the med techs do sign the MAR to ensure that they annotate that the resident had received their insulin. Based on the interviews and records reviewed, there is insufficient evidence to prove that unskilled professionals administered injections.
It was specifically alleged that there was a lack of staff to meet the residents’ needs. A former staff said that the facility did work with third party vendors to fill in for the staff shortage and attempt to contract the same person’s as they were familiar with the residents. Interview with a former staff said that the facility staff never had residents lay in soiled briefs for hours at a time, but staffing was a challenge. Additional staff corroborated with saying that there was a high turnover of staff, but staff would always ensure that the residents were assisted in their needs and checking them about every two hours. Staff recalled that they were good about changing and turning the residents. Staff mentioned that if assistance was needed, they would be able to communicate via radio that assistance was needed. According to staff and former staff who were interviewed, it was said that they believed they did not have sufficient staff but not to the point where they were not meeting the residents’ needs. A review of former complaint, control number 08-AS-20191204083608, it should be noted that a similar allegation of inadequately staffed to meet the needs of residents was generated and delivered 10/01/2020 and included that although they may have been short on caregivers’ other staff would assist which included med techs and management staff to ensure that the need’s of residents were met. Based on the information obtained during the investigation, there was insufficient evidence to prove that there was a lack of staff to meet the residents’ needs.
Based on the Department’s investigation of the above-mentioned allegations and the evidence obtained during staff and outside sources interviews and records reviewed, there is insufficient evidence to meet the preponderance of evidence standard. Therefore, the above allegations are deemed to be unsubstantiated. |