Expired Medications Not Removed from Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that expired medications were not discarded from two of three medication carts reviewed. On the D Hall medication cart, an opened box of Bisacodyl Suppositories with an expiration date of 3/31/25 was found. On the E Hall medication cart, an opened bottle of CoQ10 and an opened bottle of Antacid Antigas liquid, both with expiration dates of 2/2025, were present. Medication Aide #1 indicated she believed nurses were responsible for checking for expired medications, while Nurse #2 stated that the nurse assigned to the cart was responsible but admitted to missing the expired medications during her check. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that both assigned nurses and management team nurses, as well as the consulting pharmacist, are responsible for checking medication carts for expired drugs.