Medication Storage and Labeling Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in medication storage and labeling practices. On several occasions, staff left medication carts unlocked and unattended in hallways, allowing residents and guests to pass by without supervision. Staff members, including those not wearing name badges, repeatedly walked away from the unlocked carts, and even a nurse manager passed by without securing the cart. During medication administration, an LPN also left the cart unlocked while entering a resident's room. These actions left medications accessible and unsecured for extended periods. Further review of the medication carts revealed several medications that were not properly labeled with open dates, including saline nasal gel, Vitamin C, liquid Haloperidol, Prednisolone eye drops, Lantoprost eye drops, Dorzolamide eye drops, Deep-Sea nasal spray, and Flonase nasal spray. An expired bottle of Vitamin C was found, and the LPN acknowledged it should have been removed and destroyed. Additionally, controlled substances belonging to a resident who had expired the previous day were still present in the narcotic box and had not been removed or destroyed as required. The DON confirmed that multi-dose medications should be dated when opened and that medications for expired residents should be removed and destroyed promptly, in accordance with facility policy.