Deficiencies in Medication Storage, Labeling, and Disposal
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple deficiencies related to the storage, labeling, and disposal of medications and biologicals. In one instance, medications belonging to two discharged residents were found in the medication room, despite facility policy requiring that such medications be returned to the pharmacy or picked up by family if brought from home. Staff confirmed that these residents had not been present in the facility for several months, and the medications had not been removed as required. Additionally, two opened vials of insulin for a current resident were found in a single box, with neither vial individually labeled with the date opened, contrary to both facility policy and manufacturer guidelines that require opened vials to be dated and used within a specified timeframe. Further observations revealed that a nurse had pre-poured unidentified pills into medication cups labeled only with resident initials and room numbers, storing them in the medication cart prior to administration. The nurse acknowledged this was done to expedite the morning medication pass due to a high resident load, but also confirmed it was not an acceptable practice. Facility policy specifies that medications should be stored in their original pharmacy-labeled containers and not pre-poured. These findings were corroborated by staff interviews and review of medication administration records.