Why care homes fail the CQC inspection medication test?

#carehomes #cqc #cqcmedicationaudit - Medication management is one of the most important areas assessed by inspectors in a CQC inspection and rightly so as errors in medication management could lead to unexpected deaths of vulnerable person residing in a care home.

Medication management is assessed under a standard set of key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) that directly relate to the five key question. - Is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

It is the responsibility of all care providers, irrespective of the type of service being run, to handle medications in the safest manner possible. Irrespective of the type of service being run, it is the responsibility of all care providers to apply the highest standards of safety to medication management. Care providers are required to demonstrate that the standards of care as proscribed by the Care Quality Commission (Outcome 9, Regulation 13) are met.

Medication management process covers the following - Medication management policy, Homely remedies, Ordering, Receipt of medication, Storage of medication, Medication room, Record Keeping, Administering medication, training of staff, disposal of medication, Supplying Pharmacy but first place to start in correctly managing medication in a care home setting is to have a medication management policy that is reviewed regularly to make sure it is up to date, and is based on current legislation and the best available evidence. 

The policy should include written processes for sharing information about a resident's medicines, including when they transfer between care settings, ensuring that records are accurate and up to date, identifying, reporting and reviewing medicines‑related problems, keeping residents safe (safeguarding), accurately listing a resident's medicines (medicines reconciliation), reviewing medicines (medication review), ordering medicines, receiving, storing and disposing of medicines, helping residents to look after and take their medicines themselves (self‑administration), care home staff administering medicines to residents, including staff training and competence requirements, care home staff giving medicines to residents without their knowledge (covert administration), care home staff giving non-prescription and over‑the‑counter products to residents (homely remedies), if appropriate.

Poor operations documents and medication training of staff are other factors that could affect the quality of medication management. It is also important for care home managers to keep abreast with developments in the industry by signing up to receive the latest news relating to alerts and recalls for drugs and medical devices.  For an effective medication management process in the home, a medication audit to required. 

Care Quality Consultants offers a comprehensive medication audit, additional benefits and an 'after care' service to ensure your service is medication 'compliance ready'.

Book a MEDICATION AUDIT today and get a 5% discount.

Contact us on 0203 633 3605 or drop us an email at info@cqc-ratings.org.uk

Blog written by Ken Uwotu, Email - ken.uwotu@cqc-ratings.org.uk