Expired and Unlabeled Medications and Supplies Found in Medication and Treatment Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure proper labeling and timely removal of expired medications and medical supplies in multiple medication and treatment carts. Specifically, in the Aniak medication cart, opened bottles of glucose control solutions and test strips were found without open dates, despite manufacturer instructions requiring discard after a set period post-opening. The Infection Preventionist confirmed that these items should be labeled with open dates and used within a specified timeframe. In the Talkeetna medication cart, several expired medications and test strips were found, including PEG 3350 powder, Chlorhexidine Gluconate oral rinse, Metronidazole gel, and ACCU-CHEK test strips. A nurse stated that expiration dates were supposed to be checked daily. Additionally, the Kenai treatment cart contained expired dressings and hydrogen peroxide, as well as an opened bottle of sterile water for irrigation with no open date. A nurse acknowledged that expired supplies should have been discarded and that opened sterile water should be dated and used within 24 hours. The facility's nurse position description requires maintaining adequate stock levels of medical supplies and equipment, but these observations indicate lapses in following these protocols.