Deficient Medication Storage, Labeling, and Cart Cleanliness
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple deficiencies in the facility's medication management practices. Unopened vials of Lantus and Humalog insulin were found stored in a medication cart rather than in the refrigerator as required prior to opening. Treatment supplies, such as unbagged bottles of nystatin powder, were stored alongside oral medications in the medication cart, contrary to policy that requires separation of treatments and oral medications. Additionally, medication carts were observed to be unclean, with sticky brown substances present in drawers where medications were stored, and medication bottles sticking to the residue. Further observations revealed that open vials of insulin and an Albuterol inhaler were stored in medication carts without resident identifiers and not in their original packaging. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that medications, especially insulin and inhalers, should be labeled with resident names and stored according to policy, but this was not consistently done. The Director of Nurses acknowledged that medication carts should be kept clean and medications labeled for individual resident use.