Medications Lacking Expiration Dates on Bubble Packs
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure medication bubble packs for three residents were labeled with expiration dates, as required by professional standards and the facility's own policy. During observations and interviews, it was found that two bubble packs of rivastigmine prescribed for a resident with polyosteoarthritis, muscle weakness, and dementia, one bubble pack of trihexyphenidyl for a resident with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, and one bubble pack of lurasidone for a resident with schizophrenia, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus, all lacked expiration dates. Licensed Vocational Nurses confirmed the absence of expiration dates on these medications during medication cart inspections. The residents involved had significant medical and cognitive needs, including severe cognitive impairment and requirements for moderate to maximal assistance with activities of daily living. The facility's policy on medication labeling and storage, dated 1/16/2025, specifies that medication labels must include expiration dates when applicable. Despite this, the observed bubble packs did not meet this requirement, and staff acknowledged the importance of maintaining expiration dates to prevent the administration of expired medications.