Medication Labeling and Storage Deficiencies Identified
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple failures in the facility’s medication management practices, specifically regarding the labeling and storage of drugs and biologicals. During inspections of medication rooms and carts, numerous instances were observed where medications, including inhalers, nasal sprays, eyedrops, and topical solutions, lacked appropriate labeling with resident names or usage instructions. Additionally, several multi-dose vials and insulin vials were found without open dates or with incorrect expiration dates, and some were being used past their discard dates. Expired over-the-counter medications and expired home medications were also found stored alongside current medications in resident bins and medication rooms. Controlled substances and antibiotics that had been discontinued were still present in narcotic boxes within medication carts, rather than being removed and secured as required. In one instance, a medication refrigerator contained discontinued eye drops for a resident, despite facility policy stating that such medications should be removed and discarded. Staff interviews confirmed that these medications should not have remained in storage and that regular checks were expected to prevent such occurrences. The facility’s own policies require that all medications be properly labeled with at least the medication name, dose, strength, expiration date, and resident’s name, and that discontinued or expired medications be removed and either returned or destroyed according to pharmacy instructions. Despite these policies, surveyors found that expired, discontinued, and unlabeled medications were not consistently identified or removed from storage, and that staff were aware of but did not always follow the required procedures.