Improper Disposal of Medications in Medication Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper disposal of medications and biologicals in one of its medication rooms, specifically the Units B/C medication room. During an observation, four opened and partially used bottles of acetic acid solution were found with open dates ranging from 1/22/25 to 2/1/25. Each bottle had a pre-printed pharmacy label indicating that the bottle expires 24 hours after opening, yet they were not disposed of as required by the facility's policy. The facility's policy, dated 10/23/24, mandates that discontinued, outdated, or deteriorated drugs should be returned to the dispensing pharmacy or destroyed. This policy was not adhered to, as confirmed by Registered Nurse Employee E2 during an interview. Further confirmation of the failure to properly dispose of medications and biologicals was provided by the Nursing Home Administrator and the Director of Nursing during a subsequent interview.
Plan Of Correction
1. The Director of Nursing/Designee will conduct an immediate inventory of all medication storage areas, including medication carts, cabinets, and refrigeration units, to identify and properly dispose of any expired medications. 2. The Director of Nursing/Designee will ensure that the disposal of expired medications is documented and done in accordance with state and federal regulations, as well as facility policies. 3. The Director of Nursing/Designee will provide retraining for all relevant staff, including nursing and pharmacy personnel, on proper medication storage, handling, and disposal procedures. 4. Audits will be conducted unannounced and at varying times to ensure all shifts are adhering to the policies weekly times two for two weeks then monthly for two months. 5. Updates on the progress of the implemented changes and invite feedback to improve safety measures during the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meetings.