Expired Medications and Supplies Not Removed from Medication Cart and Room
Penalty
Summary
Expired medications and medical supplies were found on a medication cart and in a medication room during facility observations. Specifically, a bottle of melatonin tablets with an expiration date of 3/2025 was located on the 400 Hall medication cart. Multiple staff members, including LPNs and the Unit Manager, confirmed the presence of the expired medication and acknowledged that it should not have been on the cart. The facility's policy required that expired medications be removed and destroyed according to Environmental Protection Pharmacy guidelines, but this was not followed in this instance. Additionally, in the Back Hall medication room, a bottle of aspirin with an expiration date of 9/2024, three packets of oxygen masks with expiration dates of 12/2016, and one packet of oxygen tubing with an expiration date of 2/2023 were found. Unpackaged and open gauze rolls were also observed on a cupboard surface. Staff interviews confirmed that nurses were responsible for daily audits and removal of expired medications and supplies, but these expired items remained in the medication room. The DON and other staff reiterated that expired medications and supplies should be removed immediately, but this was not done, resulting in the deficiency.