Failure to Securely Store Medications and Biologicals
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that medications and biologicals were not securely stored as required by facility policy and federal regulations. In three separate cases, residents were found with medications at their bedside or in their rooms without physician orders permitting self-administration or bedside storage. One resident, admitted with multiple musculoskeletal diagnoses, had a Biofreeze Roll On Pain Relieving Gel on her bedside table on two separate occasions, and stated she used it independently for knee pain. The resident's physician order sheet did not include an order for this medication. A registered nurse confirmed that residents were not allowed to keep medications at bedside and would remove any found. Another resident, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and severe malnutrition, had both Biofreeze and Vitamin C gummies on her dresser, which she stated she brought from home and kept in her room. There were no physician orders for these items. A third resident was found with a tube of diclofenac sodium gel, prescribed for sciatic nerve pain, on her overbed table and later in her wash basin. The LPN assigned to this resident confirmed that no residents were assessed or permitted to keep medications at bedside, and that the diclofenac was not scheduled for administration during his shift. Facility policy requires all medications to be secured in a locked storage area.