Failure to Properly Label, Store, and Dispose of Medications and Biologicals
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were properly labeled, stored, and disposed of according to professional standards and facility policy. During multiple observations, medications such as nystatin powder were found left unattended in a resident's bathroom, rather than being secured in a locked compartment. The nystatin bottle was specifically labeled for use on a resident with multiple diagnoses, including hypertension, hemiplegia, anxiety, depression, and renal insufficiency, and was observed on the bathroom counter on consecutive days. The Households Unit manager confirmed that the medication should not have been left in the resident's room. Further observations revealed that several medication carts and medication rooms contained multiple opened bottles of medications and supplements, such as polyethylene glycol, meclizine, risiquad, Centrum Silver, gas relief chews, omega 3 capsules, Breo Ellipta inhaler, and flaxseed oil, none of which were dated when opened. Additionally, expired items, including povidone iodine swabs and probe covers, were found in medication rooms and had not been disposed of as required. Staff interviewed during these observations acknowledged that medications should have been dated when opened and that expired items should have been discarded.