SMQT - Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Pharmacy and Medication Services Questions and Answers

Question 1

A consultant pharmacist, during a monthly drug regimen review, identifies that a resident is prescribed two medications with a known significant drug-to-drug interaction that could cause serious harm.
According to 42 CFR §483.45, what is the pharmacist's required action after identifying this irregularity?

Accepted Answer

Report the irregularity to the attending physician and the director of nursing.

Answer

Document the finding for review at the next quarterly Quality Assurance meeting.

Answer

Contact the resident's family to inform them of the potential risk.

Answer

Report the finding to the facility's administrator and medical director.

Question 2

A surveyor is reviewing a resident's record and notes a new order for an antipsychotic medication to manage agitation. Which of the following findings would most strongly suggest that the facility is not in compliance with regulations regarding unnecessary drugs?

Accepted Answer

The record lacks documentation of non-pharmacological interventions being tried before the medication was started.

Answer

The medication was initiated after the resident had a documented altercation with another resident.

Answer

The resident's family provided consent for the use of the medication.

Answer

The initial dose prescribed is the lowest recommended dose for geriatric patients.

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios constitutes a 'significant medication error' according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) definition?

Accepted Answer

A resident is administered a medication to which they have a known, severe allergy, requiring emergency intervention.

Answer

A resident's routine daily multivitamin is administered one hour after its scheduled time.

Answer

A nurse documents the administration of a medication in the wrong time slot in the Medication Administration Record (MAR).

Answer

A resident refuses one dose of a non-critical medication, and the refusal is properly documented.

Question 4

During a tour of a facility, a surveyor observes a medication cart in a hallway. The cart is unlocked and unattended while the nurse is in a resident's room with the door closed. This practice is a direct violation of which pharmacy service requirement?

Accepted Answer

Storage of Drugs and Biologicals

Answer

Drug Regimen Review

Answer

Medication Error Prevention

Answer

Labeling of Drugs and Biologicals

Question 5

A skilled nursing facility stores its Schedule II controlled substances in a locked tackle box inside a locked medication cart. How does this practice align with federal storage requirements for controlled substances?

Accepted Answer

It is compliant because the drugs are double-locked, meeting the storage standard.

Answer

It is non-compliant because Schedule II drugs must be stored in a hospital-grade safe.

Answer

It is non-compliant unless the cart is kept in a separately locked medication room.

Answer

It is compliant only if the state board of pharmacy has specifically approved this method.

Question 6

A surveyor notes that a resident's prescribed eye drops are being stored in a medication refrigerator alongside staff food items. The eye drops are in their original, labeled container. This practice fails to comply with which aspect of medication services?

Accepted Answer

Sanitary storage and prevention of contamination.

Answer

Proper temperature control.

Answer

Procedures for medication disposal.

Answer

Administration by licensed personnel only.