Expired Medications Not Removed from Medication Carts and Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services that meet the needs of each resident by not removing expired medications from two medication carts and one medication room. During observations, surveyors found that medication cart #1 contained five expired over-the-counter medications, including Geridryl 25mg, Meclizine 12.5mg, Glucosamine Relief 500mg, Heart Burn Relief (Famotidine 20mg), and Aspirin 325mg. Medication cart #2 contained one expired over-the-counter medication, Sodium Bicarbonate. Additionally, the medication room on the [NAME] Unit had an open box of Preparation H with an expiration date that had passed. The DON confirmed in an interview that expired medications may not be effective, could interact negatively with other medications, and could cause illness if administered. Facility policy states that discontinued, outdated, or deteriorated drugs or biologicals should not be used and must be returned to the pharmacy or destroyed. These findings were based on direct observation, interviews, and record reviews.