Lakeland Healthcare Center reports medication error, self-reports to state; two low-level citations recommended

Lakeland Healthcare Center officials disclosed to the Board of Trustees on July 16 that an employee gave a resident a PRN (as-needed) medication without a physician’s order, prompting an internal investigation and a self-report to the state Department of Health Services.

The incident was first reported to facility management on June 23, the presenter said; staff who reviewed the case concluded the employee acted willfully. The facility notified the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department, which reviewed the facility’s investigation and observed medication administration; the sheriff’s office also interviewed staff. The presenter said DHS inspected about a week after the facility’s self-report and is recommending two low-level citations: F609 (reporting of abuse) for delayed notification of facility leadership and F760 (medication error) for the improper…