Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Remove Expired Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure proper labeling and storage of drugs and biologicals. During inspections of medication carts, multiple medications were found without pharmacy labels, open and undated multi-dose medications, and expired medications that had not been removed. Specific examples included two bottles of nitroglycerine without pharmacy labels, several inhalers and vials that were opened but not dated, and a bottle of ear wax removal drops labeled only with a room number rather than a resident-specific label. Additionally, a COVID-19 antigen rapid test was found to be expired, and an over-the-counter medication was not properly labeled. Nursing staff confirmed these findings and acknowledged that medications were not labeled with open or discard dates as required, and that expired or soiled drugs had not been removed from the carts. Interviews with nursing staff and the Director of Nursing revealed that the facility's policy required medications to be labeled with open dates, resident-specific or pharmacy labels, and for expired or soiled medications to be promptly removed and disposed of. The staff confirmed that these procedures were not consistently followed, resulting in the presence of expired, improperly labeled, and potentially contaminated medications in medication storage areas. The facility's written policy also specified that medications should be stored and labeled according to professional standards and manufacturer's recommendations, which was not adhered to in these instances.