Improper Medication Storage and Expired Insulin Pens Found on Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that medications and biologicals were not stored in accordance with accepted professional principles on two medication carts. On one unit, a medication cart was found unlocked and unattended, and a loose, unidentified pill was discovered in a plastic cup inside the cart. An LPN confirmed that the cart should have been locked when not attended and that medications should remain in their original packaging until administration. The LPN identified the loose pill as benzonatate, reportedly left from the midnight shift, and acknowledged that this was not proper practice. On another unit, two insulin pens were found in the medication cart that had been opened and dated beyond the 28-day usage period, as confirmed by an RN. The facility's policy requires that medications be stored securely, in their original containers, and that outdated medications be immediately removed and disposed of according to procedures. The DON confirmed that medication carts should be locked when unattended, medications should not be pre-prepared or stored loose, and insulin pens should be discarded after 28 days from opening.