F 602 Freedom from Misappropriation and Exploitation

Angie SzumlinskiLegal, Medication, Training

§483.12 “Each resident has the right to be free from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property and exploitation… [Another example of] misappropriation of resident property is the diversion of a resident’s medication(s), including, but not limited to, controlled substances for staff use or personal gain.” Opioid Stewardship Implication: Drug diversion constitutes misappropriation of resident property. As controlled substances, opioids are …

COVID-19 and Increased Medication Use

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Medication

The pandemic has had a huge impact on all of us, but even more so for residents living in post-acute centers. We have all witnessed the loneliness, isolation, physical and mental declines and if that isn’t troubling enough, a recent study found a significant increase in residents receiving antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, trazodone hydrochloride, anticonvulsants, and opioids. If you think about …

Medication capsules scattered

Medication Reconciliation

Angie SzumlinskiMedication

I remember working on a skilled Medicare unit and dreading the end of each month when that stack of new MARs were delivered from the pharmacy. I remember it very clearly, no one made eye contact with each other for fear it would be your turn to reconcile the month-end medication and treatment orders. It was definitely a tedious process …