Medication Error Regulations in Minnesota Nursing Homes
Pursuant to Minnesota Administrative Rule 4658.1320, MEDICATION ERRORS, a nursing home must ensure that:
A. Its medication error rate is less than five percent as described in the Interpretive Guidelines for Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 483.25(m), found in Appendix P of the State Operations Manual, Guidance to Surveyors for Long-Term Care Facilities, which is incorporated by reference in part 4658.1315. For purposes of this part, a medication error means:
(1) a discrepancy between what was prescribed and what medications are actually administered to residents in the nursing home; or
(2) the administration of expired medications.
Additional Medication Expectations
B. It is free of any significant medication error. A significant medication error is:
(1) an error which causes the resident discomfort or jeopardizes the resident’s health or safety; or
(2) medication from a category that usually requires the medication in the resident’s blood to be titrated to a specific blood level and a single medication error could alter that level and precipitate a reoccurrence of symptoms or toxicity.
C. All medications are administered as prescribed. An incident report or medication error report must be filed for any medication error that occurs. Any significant medication errors or resident reactions must be reported to the physician or the physician’s designee and the resident or the resident’s legal guardian or designated representative and an explanation must be made in the resident’s clinical record.
Pursuant to Minnesota Administrative Rule 4658.1330, WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FOR ADMINISTERING DRUGS, all medications, including those brought into a nursing home by a resident, must be administered only in accordance with a written order signed by a health care practitioner licensed to prescribe in Minnesota except that order may be given by telephone provided that the order is done according to part 4658.0455.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Kenneth LaBore has decades of experience and handles the following types of elder abuse claims and others:
Malnutrition
Infectious Diseases (MRSA, C-Diff)
Patient Lift Injuries and Other Improper Use of Medical Equipment
For a Free Consultation to obtain information on how to hold negligent wrongdoers accountable from an experienced elder abuse attorney contact Minneapolis Elder Abuse Neglect Attorney Kenneth LaBore at 612-743-9048 or Toll Free at 1-888-452-6589, email: KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com.