Failure to Secure Medications and Remove Expired Drugs and Lab Supplies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly secure medications and remove expired drugs and lab supplies from areas accessible for use. On multiple occasions, treatment and medication carts were observed unlocked and unattended on the Short Stay unit, with medications and supplies such as insulin pens, pen needles, lancets, fish oil, and guaifenesin accessible while residents and staff were present. Staff members, including a Certified Nurses Aid and a Registered Nurse, did not address the unsecured carts until prompted by the surveyor. Additionally, expired medications were found in medication carts, and expired lab supplies, including various types of vacutainers and butterfly needles, were available for use in both the Short Stay and Long Term units. These expired items were confirmed by nursing staff and the Director of Nursing during the survey. The observations revealed that expired medications and lab supplies remained in circulation, with staff confirming their presence and availability for use. The facility's process allowed for expired items to accumulate, and staff were not consistently ensuring that medication and treatment carts were locked when unattended. The surveyor's findings were confirmed through interviews with staff, who acknowledged the presence of expired supplies and the lapses in securing medication storage areas.