Medication Storage and Labeling Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that insulin pens belonging to a resident with diagnoses including hemiplegia, type 2 diabetes, COPD, and epilepsy were found opened and not discarded in the medication storage room. The resident required maximal assistance with activities of daily living and had moderately impaired cognitive skills. During observation, a licensed vocational nurse confirmed that the insulin pens should have been discarded and acknowledged that failure to do so could result in an infection control issue. Additionally, a bottle of valproic acid prescribed to another resident with epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, schizophrenia, and aphonia was found in the medication cart with an illegible label. This resident had severely impaired cognitive skills and required moderate assistance with daily activities. The same nurse confirmed that all medications should have legible labels and that an illegible label could lead to medication errors and uncertainty about medication ownership. The facility's policy required medications and biologicals to be stored safely, securely, and properly, in accordance with manufacturer or supplier recommendations.