Expired Medical Supplies and Medications Found in Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that four Biopatch IV dressings, with two past their expiration date and two expiring soon, were found inside the Station 1 IV cart and readily available for use. During the inspection, a registered nurse confirmed that the expired IV dressings should not have been present in the cart. Additionally, a bottle of Fluocinonide 0.05% topical solution with a torn and faded label and an open date was found in the treatment cart. A licensed vocational nurse confirmed that this medication was expired and should not have been in the cart. The Director of Nursing also acknowledged that both the Biopatch dressings and the Fluocinonide solution should have already been discarded and not stored in the carts. Review of the facility's policy indicated that outdated, contaminated, or deteriorated medications and supplies are to be immediately removed from stock and disposed of according to procedures. The presence of expired medical supplies and medication in accessible storage areas constituted a failure to follow national standards and facility policy regarding the storage and labeling of drugs and biologicals.