Expired Medications Found in Emergency Kit
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly store and manage medications in accordance with professional standards. During an inspection of the medication room, an emergency kit was found to contain several expired medications, including Coumadin, Cefuroxime, an Albuterol sulfate inhaler, and a scopolamine patch. The expiration dates on these medications were verified by a licensed nurse. Further review and staff interviews confirmed that the pharmacy consultant, responsible for monthly inspections and replacement of expired medications in the emergency kit, had not identified or removed these expired items. The facility's own policy required that discontinued, unused, or outdated medications be returned to the pharmacy, but this was not followed.