Improper Storage Temperatures for Refrigerated Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that medications requiring refrigeration were not stored at the proper temperatures in both medication rooms. In Unit A, the refrigerator temperature was found to be 70°F, and in Side B, it was 59°F during initial checks. Both refrigerators contained various medications, including multiple types of insulin, Mounjaro injection pens, and suppositories, all of which require storage between 36°F and 46°F as per the facility's policy and professional standards. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of the required temperature range, and logs indicated that out-of-range temperatures should be documented and reported immediately. On a subsequent day, the refrigerator on Side B was found to be at 30°F and later at 31°F, again outside the acceptable range. The same types of medications were observed stored in these conditions. The DON stated she was unaware that both refrigerators were out of range and acknowledged that medications should be stored at the proper temperature. No evidence was provided that the temperature discrepancies were addressed at the time of the survey, and the improper storage persisted across multiple observations.