Expired Medications Found in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were stored and labeled according to accepted professional practices, leading to the presence of expired medications in the facility. During the survey, it was observed that several medications, including Loperamide, Escitalopram, Naproxen, insulin pens, and Promethazine suppositories, were expired and still in circulation. The surveyor noted that medication carts and storage rooms contained these expired drugs, which were not removed or returned to the pharmacy as required by the facility's policy. Interviews with nursing staff revealed a lack of awareness regarding the expiration dates of medications, as some medication cards did not display expiration dates, and staff were unsure of how to determine them. The staff had to contact the pharmacy to confirm expiration dates, indicating a gap in the facility's medication management system. The Director of Nursing was informed of the expired medications, acknowledging that they should not have been in circulation, and indicated that education for the nursing staff was underway.