Medication errors and penalties in assisted living facilities.

Objective: To determine the percentage of medication-related proposed penalties for licensed assisted living facilities in North Carolina.

Design: This retrospective, cross-sectional study examined all proposed penalties and related case-file narratives stemming from annual surveys of licensed assisted living facilities conducted by the state between July 2007 and December 2008. The percentage of medication-related deficiencies and proposed penalties were calculated. Associations between the medication-related proposed penalties and facility size, location, and penalty type were explored using chi-square tests.

Setting: Assisted living facilities in North Carolina.

Main Outcome Measures: Percentage of medication- and non-medication-related penalties.

Results: A total of 1,256 licensed assisted living facilities (51% adult care homes, 59% metropolitan) were surveyed during the study period. There were 88 proposed penalties (51% medication-related) among 60 facilities. No association between medication-related proposed penalties and facility size or location was detected. However, an association (P = 0.002) was found between type of penalty (A or B) and whether the proposed penalty was medication- or non-medication-related (37.3% and 70.3% of Type A and B penalties, respectively, were medication related). Medications commonly cited were insulin, cardiovascular agents, supplements, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics. Common categories of medication errors were drug not administered and wrong dose administered.

Conclusions: Medication errors, regardless of facility size or location, were contributing factors in approximately one-half of violations sufficient enough to warrant a penalty proposal among the licensed assisted living facilities in North Carolina. These findings demonstrate a need for continued regulation and increased pharmacist involvement to improve medication safety.