Improper Medication Labeling and Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly label and dispose of medications in accordance with professional standards and facility policy. In the north hall medication storage room, an opened multi-use vial of Aplisol was found in the refrigerator without a date indicating when it was opened. A registered nurse interviewed at the time was not aware of the specific duration the Aplisol remained usable after opening, but acknowledged that it should have been dated. In the south hall medication storage room, an opened bottle of Mary's Magic Mouthwash, labeled for a specific resident, was found in the refrigerator past its expiration date. The assistant director of nursing confirmed that the mouthwash should have been discarded two days prior and that Aplisol vials are only good for 30 days after opening and should be dated accordingly. Facility policy documents provided by the administrator confirmed that open vials of Aplisol should be discarded after 30 days and that no drugs or biologicals should be stored beyond their manufacturer’s or facility-established expiration date. The findings indicate that the facility did not adhere to its own policies regarding medication labeling and disposal, resulting in expired and improperly labeled medications being stored in both medication storage rooms.