Medication Storage, Labeling, and Disposal Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple deficiencies related to the storage, labeling, and disposal of medications and biologicals. During inspection of medication carts, an opened multi-dose insulin pen was found that had not been discarded after its expiration date, and an unopened insulin pen was not stored in the refrigerator as required. Additionally, two opened multi-dose inhalers were found without the date opened written on their labels, despite manufacturer instructions to discard them after a specific period. An expired bottle of house stock medication was also found stored in the medication cart. Interviews with nursing staff and the Director of Nursing confirmed that facility policy requires medications and biologicals to be labeled and stored according to manufacturer recommendations, with opened insulins and inhalers dated and discarded after their respective expiration periods. Expired medications are to be immediately removed from stock and disposed of. The observed failures to date, store, and discard medications as required were not in accordance with facility policy or professional standards.