Failure to Maintain Proper Medication Refrigerator Temperature Controls
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain proper temperature controls for a locked medicine refrigerator used to store medications and biologicals, including insulin pens and vaccines. During an observation with the Registered Nurse Supervisor, the refrigerator was found to be at 43.5°F, and a review of the Refrigerator Temperature Log revealed multiple instances over several months where the temperature exceeded the facility's policy range of 36-46°F. Despite these out-of-range readings, no actions were documented as being taken to address the temperature deviations. The facility's policy and procedure required all medications to be stored according to manufacturer recommendations and within specified temperature ranges to ensure their integrity. The Registered Nurse Supervisor acknowledged the importance of maintaining the correct temperature for medication effectiveness and safety. The repeated failure to maintain the refrigerator within the required temperature range, as documented in the logs, directly led to the deficiency.