Failure to Label Opened Medications with Date Opened
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that opened medication bottles for eight residents were not labeled with the date they were opened. During an inspection of the morning medication cart in building B, several medications, including Valproic Acid, Constulose, Megestrol, and Enulose, were found without open date labels. This was confirmed during an interview with an LVN, who acknowledged that all medications should be labeled with the date they are opened. The LVN also stated that failing to label medications with open dates could affect the medications' effectiveness for residents. Further interview with the DON revealed that the facility's practice was to place open date labels on medication bottles upon opening and then return them to the medication cart. However, the medications observed did not have these labels, indicating a lapse in following this procedure. The DON confirmed that the absence of open date labels could result in decreased effectiveness of the medications for residents.