Failure to Label and Remove Expired Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure medications and biologicals were properly labeled with open and discard dates, and that expired medications were removed from availability. During a review of a medication cart, a tube of skin protectant cream was found with a resident's name but lacked an open or discard date, and the manufacturer's expiration date indicated it was expired. The certified medication aide confirmed the cream was expired and should have been discarded. In the central supply room, a box of Pepto Bismol tablets was found to be expired and was only discarded after being pointed out by surveyors. Additionally, in a medication storage room, an opened vial of tuberculin was found without an open date, and the LPN confirmed it should be discarded due to the missing date. Interviews with staff revealed that the skin protectant cream had come from the hospital and was not checked for expiration before being placed in the medication cart. The weekend manager was identified as responsible for reviewing carts for proper labeling and removal of expired items, while the central supply director was responsible for monitoring expiration dates in central supply. The facility's policy requires staff to record the date opened on medication containers when a shortened expiration date applies, and to separate expired medications from others until disposal. These requirements were not consistently followed, leading to the deficiencies observed.