Medication and Treatment Carts Left Unsecured
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that both the medication cart and the treatment cart on the 500 unit were left unlocked, making medications and medical supplies accessible to unauthorized individuals. Specifically, lancets used for blood sugar checks were found in a tray on top of the medication cart. These observations were confirmed by interviews with a registered nurse and the unit manager, who acknowledged that the carts should have been secured and that lancets should not be stored on top of the cart. A review of facility policies revealed that only licensed nurses, pharmacy staff, and authorized medication aides are permitted access to medication carts, and that treatment carts and their keys must be secured at all times. The failure to secure these carts and properly store medical supplies affected all 37 residents on the 500 unit, as identified by the facility's census list.