Failure to Properly Label and Remove Expired Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly label and store medications, specifically insulin pens and vials, for multiple residents. Insulin pens and vials for seven residents were found without required labeling, such as the resident's name, the date the medication was opened, and the expiration date. Additionally, some medications, including a Humalog Kwik pen and a vial of Humulin R insulin, were found without any resident identification. Staff interviews confirmed that all insulin pens should be labeled with the resident's name and the open and expiration dates, as some insulins are only viable for a specific number of days after opening. Further, expired medications were not removed from storage as required. Two vials of Ativan, which had expired, were found in the medication room refrigerator, and there were no current orders for Ativan for the resident in question. The facility's own policy requires that all opened medication vials be labeled with the date opened and discarded within the specified timeframe, yet this was not followed. These findings were based on direct observation, staff interviews, and review of physician orders and facility policy.