Expired Medication Administration Supplies Found in Medication Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured drugs and biologicals were accurately acquired, received, dispensed, and administered to meet the needs of each resident. During an observation and interview, expired medication administration supplies, including a box of 100 insulin syringes and five boxes of 100 tuberculin syringes, were found stored in the only medication room. The Director of Nursing (DON) was present during the observation and stated that Central Supply was responsible for monitoring expiration dates of supplies in the medication room, and believed that checks were performed monthly. The DON also stated that there should not be any expired supplies in the medication room and was unsure of the risks to residents. A review of the facility's policy on Medication Labeling and Storage indicated that nursing staff are responsible for maintaining medication storage and preparation areas in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner, and that discontinued, outdated, or deteriorated medications or biologicals should be returned or destroyed per pharmacy instructions. The DON reported that Central Supply was unavailable for interview at the time and confirmed that all expired supplies had been removed from the medication room.