Failure to Date and Remove Expired Medications and Biologicals
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly date insulin pens, eye drops, and a vial of folic acid when opened, and did not remove expired tuberculin serum and insulin from medication storage areas. Specifically, multiple medication carts and rooms contained insulin pens, a bottle of brimonidine eye drops, and a vial of folic acid that were undated, as well as a vial of tuberculin serum and insulin that were expired but still present in the refrigerator. These findings were confirmed through direct observation and interview with the Director of Nursing, who acknowledged ongoing audits to ensure proper dating of medications. The facility's policy requires medications and biologicals to be dated upon opening and expired items to be removed, but these procedures were not consistently followed.