Failure to Secure Controlled Medications in Locked Refrigerator
Penalty
No penalty information released
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Summary
Surveyors observed that a medication refrigerator containing controlled medications was left unlocked in one of the medication rooms. During the inspection, an LPN confirmed that controlled medications were stored in the refrigerator and acknowledged that it should always be locked, attributing the oversight to another nurse who left it open. The Director of Nursing was informed of the situation and also confirmed that the medication refrigerator should be locked at all times. The facility's policy requires that all medications be secured in locked storage areas, and specifically that Schedule II medications requiring refrigeration be stored in a locked refrigerator within a locked medication room.