Improper Medication Storage and Expired Supplies Found
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper storage and disposal of medications and medical supplies as required by policy. During observation, a resident with Alzheimer's disease was seen picking up a pill from the hallway floor and handing it to a certified nursing assistant. Interviews with staff confirmed that medications should be stored securely in medication carts or containers, and that loose pills should not be present on the ground or in the cart. Additionally, an inspection of the medication storage room revealed expired medical supplies, including a box of 100 Medline syringes and three boxes of BD syringes, all past their expiration dates. Staff interviews confirmed that expired supplies should have been discarded, and that daily checks and random audits were supposed to prevent such occurrences. The presence of expired supplies and unsecured medication constituted a failure to follow the facility's own policies regarding medication storage and disposal.