Medication Management Oversight Flashcards

A resident's family requests that a specific herbal supplement be given to the resident. The administrator should ensure that:

Answer: The attending physician is notified and approves the supplement before it is administered

All supplements, including herbal products, must be reviewed and approved by the attending physician before administration to assess for drug interactions and contraindications.

Under OBRA 1987, the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing facility residents requires:

Answer: A documented clinical indication, gradual dose reduction attempts, and monitoring for side effects

OBRA mandates that antipsychotics have a documented clinical indication, that gradual dose reductions be attempted unless clinically contraindicated, and that residents be monitored for adverse effects.

A facility administrator receives a report that a Schedule II controlled substance count is off by two doses at the end of a shift. The FIRST administrative action should be to:

Answer: Initiate an investigation, secure the remaining controlled substances, and notify appropriate authorities if diversion is suspected

A controlled substance discrepancy requires an immediate investigation, securing remaining drugs, and reporting to law enforcement or the DEA if diversion is confirmed or reasonably suspected.

Which of the following scenarios would constitute a medication error that must be reported per facility policy?

Answer: A resident receives another resident's blood pressure medication due to a transcription error

Administering a medication to the wrong resident is a definitive medication error requiring documentation, incident reporting, prescriber notification, and monitoring for adverse effects.

When a long-term care facility uses an automated medication dispensing cabinet (ADC), the administrator must ensure that:

Answer: Access is restricted by role, all transactions are logged, and override use is monitored and audited

ADCs must have role-based access controls, complete transaction audit trails, and administrative oversight of override usage to prevent diversion and errors.

A resident with dementia is prescribed a medication 'crushed and mixed with applesauce.' The administrator's oversight role includes verifying that:

Answer: The pharmacist has confirmed the medication is safe to crush and the consent is documented in the care plan

Not all medications are safe to crush (e.g., extended-release or enteric-coated formulations); pharmacist confirmation and care plan documentation are required before altering medication form.

The purpose of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee in a long-term care setting is to:

Answer: Establish and review the facility formulary, medication use policies, and monitor medication-related quality indicators

The P&T Committee oversees formulary management, medication policies, and quality improvement initiatives related to pharmaceutical services across the facility.