Improper Storage and Handling of Expired and Controlled Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to properly store and discard expired medication and did not store controlled substances in accordance with facility policy and professional standards. During an observation in the medication storage room, a box of expired Microdot glucose gel was found in a cabinet. The LVN present acknowledged that the medication was expired and had not been noticed or discarded as required. The DON confirmed that expired medications were supposed to be checked and removed weekly but admitted missing the removal of the expired glucose gel at the end of the previous month. Additionally, the facility did not store Lorazepam, a controlled medication, in a separately locked compartment as required. Two vials of Lorazepam for one resident and one vial for another were found stored with non-controlled medications in a single-locked medication refrigerator. Both the LVN and DON confirmed that Lorazepam should be double locked and stored separately from non-controlled medications, in line with facility policy. The residents involved had significant cognitive impairments and required substantial assistance with daily activities.