Failure to Secure Medications in Locked Compartments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were stored properly in locked compartments, as required by policy and regulation. In one instance, a resident with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, and other medical conditions was observed to have a bottle of Flonase nasal spray on her bedside table and reported self-administering the medication as needed. Review of her medical record revealed there was no active order for Flonase, and the DON confirmed the medication was at the bedside and being self-administered. In another case, a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses was found with a medication cup containing two tablets on his bedside table, which were identified by an LPN as his night medications that should have been administered the previous night. There was no documentation of medication refusal for this resident, and the DON was notified of the incident. These observations demonstrate that medications were left unsecured at residents' bedsides, contrary to facility policy and accepted professional standards.