Failure to Label Opened Medications with Open Date
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that opened medications were properly labeled with the date they were opened, as required by regulations. During an observation of the medication cart on the 2nd floor, five opened bottles of medication, including B12, Cranberry, Vitamin D, Ferrous Sulfate, and B1, were found without an open date label. This was confirmed by an interview with a licensed nurse, Employee E9. Similarly, on the 3rd floor, an opened bottle of Vitamin D 1250mg was also found without an open date label, confirmed by Employee E10. Additionally, in the 2nd floor medication room, an open bottle of Tuberculin was observed without an open date label, which was again confirmed by Employee E9. These observations indicate a failure to comply with the requirement to label drugs and biologicals with the appropriate accessory and cautionary instructions, including the expiration date when applicable, as per §483.45(g). This deficiency was noted in two of the three medication carts reviewed and one medication room.
Plan Of Correction
A- Medications identified at the time of survey that were not dated were removed from the med carts and replaced with new medications. B- Audit of med carts and all undated multidose containers of meds removed with new ones obtained. New meds dated when opened. C- All nurses educated on dating multidose medication containers when opened. D - Weekly x 4 then monthly x 2 audits by DON or designee of multidose med containers to ensure open containers are dated. Results discussed during QAPI meetings.