Failure to Maintain Medication Refrigerators and Thermometers in Safe Operating Condition
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain essential medication storage equipment in safe operating condition. During an inspection of the third floor medication storage room, the freezer compartment of the medication refrigerator was found to be completely frozen with ice, and a clear plastic bag containing an unidentified object was frozen into the ice. The registered nurse present confirmed the need for defrosting and was unable to identify the contents of the frozen bag. In a separate medication storage room, the thermometer for the medication refrigerator displayed a temperature of 60 degrees, which is above the facility's recommended range of 36-46 degrees. The refrigerator contained IV antibiotics, insulin, and immunization vials. The previous temperature logs were within the recommended range, but the current elevated temperature was attributed by staff to overstocking and frequent opening of the refrigerator. When questioned about the process for addressing out-of-range temperatures, the registered nurse stated she would recheck the temperature in a few hours and notify the unit manager or maintenance assistant if the issue persisted. The maintenance assistant, when asked about maintenance schedules, indicated there was no set schedule for checking or maintaining the refrigerators and thermometers, and that issues were addressed only when reported by staff. The director of nursing confirmed the importance of maintaining working thermometers to ensure medication efficacy. The facility's medication storage policy requires regular monitoring of storage conditions as a quality assurance measure.