Medication Storage, Labeling, and Disposal Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple failures in the facility's management of medications and biologicals, including improper storage, labeling, and disposal. During an inspection of the Medication Room, expired acetaminophen suppositories and culture swabs were found, as well as eye drop medications stored together with injectable medications in the same bin. Additionally, boxes of Trulicity injectable medication were found without labels or discard/expiration dates. These findings were acknowledged and verified by the registered nurse present during the inspection. Further inspections of Medication Carts B and C revealed additional expired supplies, such as Tegaderm film, surgical masks, and wound dressings. On Medication Cart C, a bottle of normal saline was found with only the date opened documented, lacking the required time of opening. These deficiencies were confirmed by the nursing staff and infection preventionist during the survey. In a resident's room, three sachets of Calazinc body shield cream were found on the bedside cabinet, rather than being stored in the treatment cart as required by facility policy. The resident, who had orders for Calazinc application to treat skin conditions, confirmed that staff applied the cream as ordered. Both the certified nursing assistant and licensed vocational nurse acknowledged that the cream should not have been left at the bedside and should have been secured in the treatment cart.