Failure to Properly Label and Remove Expired Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that drugs and biologicals in the facility were not consistently labeled or stored according to accepted professional standards. During reviews of medication carts and the medication room, several vials of insulin and tuberculosis medication were found without dates indicating when they were opened. Additionally, some insulin vials were found to be expired. Licensed nursing staff confirmed the lack of open dates and the presence of expired vials, acknowledging that these should have been destroyed. Further inspection revealed multiple expired oral medications, including midodrine, meclizine, furosemide, and cyclobenzaprine, stored in the medication carts for several residents. Nineteen expired over-the-counter medications were also found on supply shelves in the medication room. Staff confirmed the expired status of these medications and removed them from storage. The facility's policy required medications to be stored according to manufacturer recommendations and for the pharmacist to routinely inspect for outdated or discontinued medications, but these procedures were not followed as observed.