Medication Storage and Labeling Deficiencies Identified
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure proper storage and labeling of medications on two of three medication carts reviewed. Specifically, medications were not stored in their original packaging, open dates were missing on several medications, and discontinued medications were not removed from the carts. On the 200-unit cart, there was a bottle of latanoprost eye drops without an open date, a bottle of liquid protein without a resident's name that belonged to a discharged resident, and 19 loose pills found in the drawers. Staff interviews confirmed that the eye drops should have been dated when opened, the liquid protein should have been discarded or given to the discharged resident, and loose pills should not be present in the cart. On the 300-unit north cart, similar issues were found, including multiple bottles of eye drops and other medications without open dates, a medication for a discharged resident that had not been removed, a discontinued medication still present, and 16 loose pills in the drawers. Staff interviews confirmed that open dates were required on medications and that discontinued or resident-specific medications should have been removed from the cart. Facility policies reviewed indicated requirements for proper labeling and disposal of unused, contaminated, or expired medications.