Improper Refrigeration of Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that medications requiring refrigeration, including Tuberculin (PPD), insulin, and hepatitis vials, were stored in a medication refrigerator with a temperature reading of 32°F, which is below the facility's policy requirement of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). During the observation, a registered nurse confirmed the temperature was outside the acceptable range and acknowledged that the medications were not stored according to policy. The facility's policy specifies that medications needing refrigeration must be kept within the specified temperature range and monitored with a thermometer, with maintenance notified if temperatures are out of range. The improper storage temperature was directly observed and confirmed by staff during the survey.