Failure to Discard Outdated Medications and Label Opened Drugs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly manage and discard outdated medications across multiple medication carts and a medication room. Observations revealed that open insulin pens and vials, including Lantus, Lispro, and Humalog, were found without dates indicating when they were opened, making it impossible for staff to determine appropriate discard dates. In one instance, an open Lantus insulin pen was found with an open date that exceeded the manufacturer's recommended 28-day usage period. Additionally, an open vial of Tubersol was found with an open date that was beyond the 30-day discard period specified by the manufacturer. Staff interviews confirmed that the medications in question lacked required open dates or were kept past their recommended usage periods, and staff acknowledged that these medications should have been discarded. The facility's policy requires that the expiration or beyond-use date be checked prior to administration and that the date opened be recorded on multi-dose containers, but these procedures were not followed for the medications observed.