title: Medication errors and penalties in assisted living facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the percentage of medication-related proposed penalties for licensed assisted living facilities in North Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assisted living facilities in North Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Aubri L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Charboneau
authors.forename: Penny S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: Jan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brickley
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009657:North Carolina; D012189:Retrospective Studies