All prescriptions have to come thru a doctor whether a private PCP or one associated with the facility.
My question, how do you know that the person is not receiving the medication? Once Mom was in the AL, the RN was responsible for having meds ordered and Moms PCP called for refills. Medtechs dispensed the medication. None of the residents, even of sound mind, were allowed medication in their rooms.
As said ALs don't have medications on hand either do LTC facilities. They both work with outside pharmacies. These pharmacies order from Pharmaceutical whses. I worked for one. If a prescription came in before 8pm and in stock, it would go to the pharmacy on the next truck in the morning. It would depend on where the pharmacy was to when it would get delivered. Then that pharmacy has to process and send it out. If order not in till after 8pm, then it doesn't get shipped the next morning but the morning following. Product is not "picked" until second shift. First shift only stocks.
Tthanks Joann- The AL doctor & my Mom's PVP apparently did not communicate. My Mom, therefore, wasn't receiving her meds prescribed, filled & delivered to AL. It came to a head when my Mom suffered from a bladder infection & was not given her antibiotics. Horrendous. This should have never taken place. I think it's worked out now. Thanks for responding.
Do they have the med? Sometimes it may take time to get it. They may need to write a policy to administer it if it’s a med they are not familiar with. Or the med could be back ordered. Also if there is a medical group taking care of the person while at AL, they may not be able to take an order from a doctor without privileges. There may be a lot of different reasons than those mentioned. Ask the AL DON and let her know your concerns.
Exactly. The AL didn't let us know what was needed to dispense medications from my Mom's PCP - outside of AL. It is ridiculous to think this procedure wasn't followed. Thanks for your post.
Big question for you is... Are they forgetting to administer the medication or is the resident refusing to take the medication? If this is a continuing problem I would certainly bring it up to the administration. This could be a case of neglect It could be the start of an interesting legal case if you wanted to push it. Now if the medication prescribed by the doctor might interact with another medication the patient is already taking is it possible that they have contacted the doctor and are waiting on a return call? Sometimes doctors prescribe without checking what other medications someone is taking. I would check as to why the medication is not being given. Then decide how to tackle the problem. And the facility dispensing the medication is one thing there is not much they can do if the person refuses the medication, or resists the medication if it is a topical. ( I would think in Assisted Living they can not "force" someone to take a medication, Memory Care would be different)
All good points. I'm not sure if you can see my answer to previous comments, but hope you can. The AL did not tell us what would be needed to dispense medication that came from my Mom's PCP. It was inexcusable. Thanks for your post.
My question, how do you know that the person is not receiving the medication? Once Mom was in the AL, the RN was responsible for having meds ordered and Moms PCP called for refills. Medtechs dispensed the medication. None of the residents, even of sound mind, were allowed medication in their rooms.
As said ALs don't have medications on hand either do LTC facilities. They both work with outside pharmacies. These pharmacies order from Pharmaceutical whses. I worked for one. If a prescription came in before 8pm and in stock, it would go to the pharmacy on the next truck in the morning. It would depend on where the pharmacy was to when it would get delivered. Then that pharmacy has to process and send it out. If order not in till after 8pm, then it doesn't get shipped the next morning but the morning following. Product is not "picked" until second shift. First shift only stocks.
Also if there is a medical group taking care of the person while at AL, they may not be able to take an order from a doctor without privileges.
There may be a lot of different reasons than those mentioned.
Ask the AL DON and let her know your concerns.
Are they forgetting to administer the medication or is the resident refusing to take the medication?
If this is a continuing problem I would certainly bring it up to the administration.
This could be a case of neglect
It could be the start of an interesting legal case if you wanted to push it.
Now if the medication prescribed by the doctor might interact with another medication the patient is already taking is it possible that they have contacted the doctor and are waiting on a return call? Sometimes doctors prescribe without checking what other medications someone is taking.
I would check as to why the medication is not being given. Then decide how to tackle the problem.
And the facility dispensing the medication is one thing there is not much they can do if the person refuses the medication, or resists the medication if it is a topical. ( I would think in Assisted Living they can not "force" someone to take a medication, Memory Care would be different)