Failure to Properly Store and Label Medications and Biologicals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were stored in a safe, secure, and orderly manner across multiple nursing units and medication storage areas. On one unit, a resident was observed to have several medications, including eye drops and an inhaler, stored on their bedside table inside a tissue box on two separate occasions. This improper storage was confirmed by both a registered nurse and the nursing home administrator. Additionally, during reviews of medication carts, suppositories were found comingled with oral medications, and a vial of COVID-19 testing solution was not labeled with an open date. These issues were confirmed by nursing staff during interviews. Further deficiencies were identified in medication storage rooms, where two unlabeled cold brick ice packs were found in a medication refrigerator, and a box of insulin safety syringes with an expired use-by date was discovered in a cupboard. These findings were also confirmed by nursing staff. The facility's policies require that medications and biologicals be stored securely and according to manufacturer recommendations, and that only authorized personnel have access, but these procedures were not followed in the instances cited.