Laurels of Gahanna: Pain Medication Given Wrong - OH
The Laurels of Gahanna administered hydrocodone-acetaminophen to Resident #26 on multiple occasions when his reported pain levels were just three or four, according to federal inspection records. The facility's own pain management policy, updated in April, required the medication only for "severe pain."
The 107-bed facility also failed to document where the resident's pain was located during any of the eleven times staff gave him the controlled substance between July 21 and August 9.
Resident #26 had been admitted to the facility in June with chronic heart failure, acute respiratory failure, end-stage renal disease, diabetes, and depression. His cognitive abilities remained intact, inspection records show.
The problems began July 20 when the resident called emergency medical services for leg pain. He returned from the hospital the next day with a new physician's order for hydrocodone-acetaminophen, to be given every eight hours as needed for severe pain.
Over the following three weeks, nursing staff administered the opioid painkiller eleven times. On July 31, they gave it when his pain was rated at just three. On August 2, they gave it again for pain rated at three. On July 29, August 5, and August 6, staff administered the medication for pain levels of four.
The facility's Director of Nursing confirmed during an August 11 interview that severe pain meant a rating of seven or above. She acknowledged that pain levels of three and four were not considered severe.
"She verified pains of three and four were not considered severe," inspection records state.
The nursing director also confirmed that staff had failed to assess or document any description of the resident's pain location during medication administration.
When inspectors interviewed Resident #26 on August 11, he described continuous pain in his feet that he attributed to diabetic neuropathy. Yet nursing records contained no documentation of pain location for any of the eleven medication administrations.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to provide appropriate pain management and monitor residents for the presence of pain. The facility's own policy, dated April 28, specified that staff must determine the location of pain and evaluate residents whenever new pain is suspected.
The policy also required each resident with pain to have a pain management care plan. Resident #26 had no such plan, inspection records show.
The medication errors weren't isolated incidents. Staff gave hydrocodone-acetaminophen for appropriate severe pain levels on some occasions - ratings of seven and eight - but mixed these with inappropriate administrations for mild discomfort.
On July 22, nursing staff administered the opioid twice in one day, once for pain rated at six and again for pain rated at eight. On August 5, they gave it twice again, for pain levels of seven and four. On August 8, the resident received the medication for pain rated at eight, then again for pain rated at six.
The physician's orders consistently specified that nonpharmacological interventions should be attempted before giving the medication. Inspection records don't indicate whether staff tried alternative pain relief methods.
The resident's original three-day order for the medication expired July 23, but physicians renewed it for continued use as needed for severe pain.
Diabetic neuropathy, the condition the resident believed caused his foot pain, commonly causes burning, tingling, or shooting pain in the feet and legs. The condition affects up to half of all people with diabetes and can significantly impact quality of life.
The inspection was conducted in response to complaints filed with state regulators. The deficiency affected one of three residents reviewed for pain management during the August 20 inspection.
Federal inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm to residents. The facility must submit a plan of correction to address the pain management failures.
Resident #26 continues to experience continuous foot pain from his diabetic condition.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for The Laurels of Gahanna from 2025-08-20 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
THE LAURELS OF GAHANNA in COLUMBUS, OH was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 20, 2025.
His cognitive abilities remained intact, inspection records show.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.