Medication Error Linked to Death of Minnesota Nursing Home Resident
According to a recent report from Minnesota's Office of Health Facility Complaints, a recent nursing home death has been tied to medication error.
According to the report, a patient was admitted to Faribault Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation following a hospital stay for spinal surgery on June 2, 2009. The resident was to receive rehabilitation therapy and had orders for a daily Lovenox injection, a medication prescribed to help prevent blood clots.
The resident received the injection as ordered for three days, but facility staff reportedly failed to give the injection over the weekend. The resident was given the injection for four more days before treatment was abruptly halted due to an apparent transcription error. According to the report, a nurse wrote that the Lovenox treatment was to cease on June 11, instead of July 11 as ordered.
Sadly, the resident suffered a massive stroke on June 17 and was hospitalized. The resident died on June 24, 2009. The facility was cited for neglect and the nurse who made the error was terminated.
