Drug Diversion Medication Theft at Sunrise Assisted Living of Roseville

Allegations of Medication Theft at Sunrise Assisted Living

In a report dated November 28, 2016, from the Minnesota Department of Health it is alleged that Sunrise Assisted Living in Roseville it is alleged that seven clients were financially exploited when staff, alleged perpetrator (AP), took the client’s medications.

Substantiated Neglect After Medications Being Taken from Residents at Sunrise Assisted Living

Based on a preponderance of evidence, financial exploitation is substantiated.  The alleged perpetrator (AP) took pain medications belonging to seven different clients over the course of multiple incidents.

All seven clients received medication administration from the home care provider.  Client #1 had a physician’s order for morphine 5 milligrams (mg).  Client #2 had a physician’s order for tramadol 50 mg.  Client #3 had a physician’s order for hydrocodone/APAP 5/325 mg.  Client #4 had a physician’s order for oxycodone 2.5 mg (5 mg, half tablets).  Client #5 had a physician’s order for oxycodone 5 mg.  Client #6 had a physician’s order for hydrocodone/APAP 5/325 (half tablets).  Client #7 had a physician’s order for hydrocodone/APAP 5 325 mg.

Interviews with staff were conducted.  A nurse tried to refill the physician’s order for Client #7.  The pharmacy called back later and told the nurse that it was too soon to refill the order.  The nurse reviewed the facility medication administration records and the original physician’s order and determined Client #7 should have 30 tablets remaining.  When checking the narcotic count sheet, the nurse noticed the AP had logged in the narcotic medications.  This was unusual because the nurse received the medications from the pharmacy and always logged the medications in after receiving them from the pharmacy.  The nurse notified the supervisor.

A review of the pharmacy delivery inventory sheets and the narcotic count book sheets revealed the following missing medications for each client:  Client #1 had 30 tablets of morphine 5 mg missing; Client #2 had 30 tablets of tramadol 50 mg missing;  Client #3 had 150 tablets of hydrocodone/APAP 5 325 missing; Client #4 had 120 half tablets of oxycodone 2.5 mg (5 mg half tablets) missing; Client #5 had 60 half tablets of oxycodone missing; Client #6 had 90 half tablets of hydrocodone/APAP 5 325 mg missing; and Client #7 had 90 tablets of hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5/325 mg missing.

The AP had falsified signatures, altered count documents, and falsified count inventory numbers and dates for all seven clients.  Staff checked the document destruction bins and discovered empty bubble packs for Client #3, Client #4, and Client #5 along with what appeared to be practiced pages of staff signatures.  The AP confessed s/he was responsible for all the missing medications to management.

A police report indicated police were notified by the home care provider that medications were missing.  The home care provider provided police with documentation detailing the missing medications.  The police interviewed the AP, and the AP admitted to taking medications from the clients.

The AP was interviewed and admitted to taking medications from clients.

For more information from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Complaints concerning nursing homes, assisted living and other elder care providers view resolved complaints at the MDH website.

If you have concerns about medication errors, theft of medication or any other form of elder abuse or neglect contact Minnesota Elder Abuse Attorney Kenneth LaBore at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589 or by email at KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com.

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Lyngblomsten Care Center Cited After Medication Theft also Known as Drug Diversion

Medication Taken From Resident at Lyngblomsten Leads to MDH Complaint

In a report dated November 7, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health alleged that Lyngblomsten Care Center in St. Paul, Minnesota it is alleged that a resident was financially exploited when the alleged perpetrator (AP) took resident’s pain medications.

Substantiated Medication Theft at Lyngblomsten Care Center

Based on a preponderance of the evidence, financial exploitation occurred when the alleged perpetrator (AP) took narcotic pain medications from multiple residents several times.

A physician ordered hydrocodone/acetaminophen (a opioid/narcotic pain medication) 5/323 milligrams (mg) every four hours as needed for the resident’s moderate to severe breakthrough pain.  The facility staff administered for the resident’s medications.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., the resident requested prescribed pain medication and nurse went to retrieve the medication from an automated medication dispensing machine.  The nurse entered his/her identification and password to retrieve the medication and the dispensing machine indicated it was “too early.”  The nurse informed the supervisor, who contacted the pharmacy that services the medication dispensing machine.  The pharmacy was able to tell the supervisor the AP had retrieved the pain medication for the resident at 7:12 p.m.  The AP was working that evening on another unit and was not assigned to the resident.  The supervisor spoke with the AP.  The AP did not have a clear explanation.

The video surveillance in the medication room identified the AP entering the room, accessing the machine at 7:12 p.m., and placing the medication envelope in his/her right uniform pocket.  A machine report verified the AP was the person who retrieved medication for the resident.  The transaction report for the machine indicated the AP had retrieved the resident’s pain medication 73 times over a four month period.  The AP had not documented any of the medications were given to the resident on the electronic medication administration record.

The resident was interviewed and stated s/he was having tooth pain that evening and requested the pain medication.  The resident was given plain acetaminophen for pain relief.

Additional documentation review and staff interviews were conducted during the investigation.  The AP retrieved narcotic pain medication from the medication dispensing machine for six residents from January 2016 to April 2016, retrieving a total of 350 opioid tablets.  The AP did not document these tablets as administered to the six residents on the electronic medication administration record.  S/he reported s/he had forgotten to document.

The police report indicated the AP admitted to taking one or two Oxycodone HCL (another opioid narcotic) 5 mg tablets from residents during five separate incidents over a four month period of time.  In addition, the police searched the AP’s purse and found six opioid tablets that the AP admitted belonged to other residents in the facility.  The case was forwarded to the county attorney for charges.

During an interview, the AP reported s/he had been taken one or two Oxycodone HCL 5 mg tablets from a resident during five separate incidents over a four month period.  The AP stated s/he did not give medication to the resident on the evening of the incident.   The AP indicated the tablets, found by the police in his/her purse, did not come from the facility.

After video surveillance confirmed the AP’s conduct, s/he was terminated from the facility.

For more information from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Complaints concerning nursing homes, assisted living and other elder care providers view resolved complaints at the MDH website.

If you have concerns about medication errors, drug version / medication theft or any other form of elder abuse or neglect contact Minnesota Elder Abuse Attorney Kenneth LaBore at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589 or by email at KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com.

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Drug Diversion and Narcotic Medication Theft at Home Care Services

Substantiate Complaint After Narcotics Theft at Home Care Services

In a report dated September 19, 2016 from the Minnesota Department of Health, it is alleged that two clients from Home Care Services in Springfield Minnesota were financially exploited when the alleged perpetrator (AP) took the client’s narcotic medications.

Narcotic Medication Theft at Home Care Services

Based on a preponderance of the evidence, financial exploitation is substantiated.  The alleged perpetrator (AP) took narcotic medications from two clients on several occasions.

Client #1 received services from the home care provider for daily wellness checks, oxygen tank service, assistance with compression stockings, and weekly blood pressure checks according to client’s service agreement.  Client #1 had a physician’s order for several strengths of oxycodone (an opioid narcotic) to be taken as needed multiple times per day.

Client #2 received services from the home care provider for transfer assistance when bathing according to the client’s service agreement.  Client #2 had a physician’s order for hydrocodone/APAP (an opioid narcotic).

Neither client received medication management service from the home care provider.

A family member reported they suspected a staff member was taking medications from both clients.  The housing director sat in Client #1’s apartment while they were out of the apartment at supper.  There was a medication bottle on a table in the living room with medication inside.  S/he observed the AP knock on the door, enter the apartment, pour medications from Client #1’s medication bottle, and leave the apartment.  The staff checked the pill bottle and said it was empty.  S/he notified the police.  Police came to the facility and the AP admitted s/he took pills from the clients a few times.  Police searched the AP and discovered eight pills belonging to Client #1.

Interviews with clients revealed Client #2 was missing 14 hydrocodone/APAP tablets from the pill bottle that was stored in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.  Client #1 was missing over 20 tablets from the pill bottle that were stored on a table in the living room.

A police report was reviewed.  Police searched the AP and interviewed him/her.  Police discovered oxycodone tablets belonging to Client #1 in the AP’s pocket.  The AP admitted to the police s/he took pills from both clients.  Police forwarded their findings to the county attorney for possible criminal charges.  Attempts to interview the AP were unsuccessful.

For more information from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Complaints concerning nursing homes, assisted living and other elder care providers view resolved complaints at the MDH website.

If you have concerns about medication errors, and drug diversion or any other form of elder abuse or neglect contact Minnesota Elder Abuse Attorney Kenneth LaBore at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589 or by email at KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com.

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