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Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living

Top 10 AL Deficiencies: January – June 2021

Top 10 AL Deficiencies: January – June 2021

DSS has shared data on the top 10 deficiencies cited during the 710 inspections of assisted living facilities the agency conducted from January 1 – June 30, 2021. Citations related to medication administration and individual service plans top the list. 

 

22VAC40-73-680-D Administration of medications and related provisions. Medications shall be administered in accordance with the physician’s or other prescriber’s instructions and consistent with the standards of practice outlined in the current registered medication aide curriculum approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
22VAC40-73-450-C Individualized service plans. The comprehensive individualized service plan shall be completed within 30 days after admission and shall include the following:

  1. Description of identified needs and date identified based upon the (i) UAI; (ii) admission physical examination; (iii) interview with resident; (iv) fall risk rating, if appropriate; (v) assessment of psychological, behavioral, and emotional functioning, if appropriate; and (vi) other sources;
  2. A written description of what services will be provided to address identified needs, and if applicable, other services, and who will provide them;
  3. When and where the services will be provided;
  4. The expected outcome and time frame for expected outcome;
  5. Date outcome achieved; and
  6. For a facility licensed for residential living care only, if a resident lives in a building housing 19 or fewer residents, a statement that specifies whether the resident does or does not need to have a staff member awake and on duty at night.
22VAC40-73-320-A Physical examination and report. Within the 30 days preceding admission, a person shall have a physical examination by an independent physician. The report of such examination shall be on file at the assisted living facility and shall contain the following:

  1. The person’s name, address, and telephone number;
  2. The date of the physical examination;
  3. Height, weight, and blood pressure;
  4. Significant medical history;
  5. General physical condition, including a systems review as is medically indicated;
  6. Any diagnosis or significant problems;
  7. Any known allergies and description of the person’s reactions;
  8. Any recommendations for care including medication, diet, and therapy;
  9. Results of a risk assessment documenting the absence of tuberculosis in a communicable form as evidenced by the completion of the current screening form published by the Virginia Department of Health or a form consistent with it;
  10. A statement that the individual does not have any of the conditions or care needs prohibited by 22 VAC 40-73-310 H;
  11. A statement that specifies whether the individual is considered to be ambulatory or nonambulatory as defined in this chapter;
  12. A statement that specifies whether the individual is or is not capable of self-administering medication; and
  13. The signature of the examining physician or his designee.
22VAC40-73-640-A Medication management plan and reference materials. The facility shall have, keep current, and implement a written plan for medication management. The facility’s medication plan shall address procedures for administering medication and shall include:

  1. Methods to ensure an understanding of the responsibilities associated with medication management;
  2. Standard operating procedures, including the facility’s standard dosing schedule and any general restrictions specific to the facility;
  3. Methods to prevent the use of outdated, damaged, or contaminated medications;
  4. Methods to ensure that each resident’s prescription medications and any over-the-counter drugs and supplements ordered for the resident are filled and refilled in a timely manner to avoid missed dosages;
  5. Methods for verifying that medication orders have been accurately transcribed to medication administration records (MARs) within 24 hours of receipt of a new order or change in an order;
  6. Methods for monitoring medication administration and the effective use of the MARs for documentation;
  7. Methods to ensure that MARs are maintained as part of the resident’s record;
  8. Methods to ensure accurate counts of all controlled substances whenever assigned medication administration staff changes;
  9. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications meet the qualification requirements of 22 VAC 40-73-670;
  10. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications are adequately supervised, including periodic direct observation of medication administration;
  11.  A plan for proper disposal of medication;
  12. Methods to ensure that residents do not receive medications or dietary supplements to which they have known allergies;
  13. Identification of the medication aide or the person licensed to administer drugs responsible for routinely communicating issues or observations related to medication administration to the prescribing physician or other prescriber;
  14. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications are trained on the facility’s medication management plan; and
  15. Procedures for internal monitoring of the facility’s conformance to the medication management plan.
22VAC40-73-680-I Administration of medications and related provisions. The MAR shall include:

  1. Name of the resident;
  2. Date prescribed;
  3. Drug product name;
  4. Strength of the drug;
  5. Dosage;
  6. Diagnosis, condition, or specific indications for administering the drug or supplement;
  7. Route (e.g., by mouth);
  8. How often medication is to be taken;
  9. Date and time given and initials of direct care staff administering the medication;
  10. Dates the medication is discontinued or changed;
  11. Any medication errors or omissions;
  12. Description of significant adverse effects suffered by the resident;
  13. For “as needed” (PRN) medications:

a.     Symptoms for which medication was given;

b.     Exact dosage given; and

c.     Effectiveness; and

  1. The name, signature, and initials of all staff administering medications. A master list may be used in lieu of this documentation on individual MARs.
22VAC40-73-650-B Physician’s or other prescriber’s order. Physician or other prescriber orders, both written and oral, for administration of all prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements shall include the name of the resident, the date of the order, the name of the drug, route, dosage, strength, how often medication is to be given, and identify the diagnosis, condition, or specific indications for administering each drug.
22VAC40-90-40-B Licensee. The licensee shall: G

  1. Give evidence of financial responsibility and solvency.
  2. Be of good character and reputation in accordance with § 63.2-1702 of the Code of Virginia. Character and reputation investigation includes background checks as required by § 63.2-1721 of the Code of Virginia.
  3. Meet the requirements specified in the Regulation for Background Checks for Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Day Care Centers (22 VAC 40-90).
  4. Act in accordance with General Procedures and Information for Licensure (22 VAC 40-80).
  5. Protect the physical and mental well-being of residents.
  6. Exercise general supervision over the affairs of the licensed facility and establish policies and procedures concerning its operation in conformance with applicable law, this chapter, and the welfare of the residents.
  7. Ensure that he, his agents, the facility administrator, or facility staff or the relatives of any of these persons shall not act as, seek to become, or become the conservator or guardian of any resident unless specifically so appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to Article 1 (§ 64.2-2000 et seq.) of Chapter 20 of Title 64.2 of the Code of Virginia.
  8. Ensure that the current license is posted in the facility in a place conspicuous to the residents and the public.
  9. Ensure that the facility keeps and maintains at the facility records, reports, plans, schedules, and other information as required by this chapter for licensed assisted living facilities.
  10. Ensure that any document required by this chapter to be posted shall be in at least 12-point type or equivalent size, unless otherwise specified.
  11. Make certain that when it is time to discard records, they are disposed of in a manner that ensures confidentiality.
  12. Ensure that at all times the department’s representative is afforded reasonable opportunity to inspect all of the facility’s buildings, books, and records and to interview agents, employees, residents, and any person under its custody, control, direction, or supervision as specified in § 63.2-1706 of the Code of Virginia.
22VAC40-73-70-A Incident reports. Each facility shall report to the regional licensing office within 24 hours any major incident that has negatively affected or that threatens the life, health, safety, or welfare of any resident.
22VAC40-73-450-F Individualized service plans. Individualized service plans shall be reviewed and updated at least once every 12 months and as needed as the condition of the resident changes. The review and update shall be performed by a staff person with the qualifications specified in subsection B of this section and in conjunction with the resident and, as appropriate, with the resident’s family, legal representative, direct care staff, case manager, health care providers, qualified mental health professionals, or other persons.
22VAC40-73-650-A Physician’s or other prescriber’s order. No medication, dietary supplement, diet, medical procedure, or treatment shall be started, changed, or discontinued by the facility without a valid order from a physician or other prescriber. Medications include prescription, over-the-counter, and sample medications.

 

Posted in Assisted Living, DSS