Medications Improperly Stored in Unlocked Drawer at Nurses Station
Penalty
No penalty information released
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications were stored securely in accordance with its own policy and professional standards. On Unit 1, a surveyor observed a unit manager opening an unlocked drawer at the nurses station that contained six over-the-counter medications, including acetaminophen extended release tablets, calcium tablets, aspirin tablets, Beano extra strength tablets, and GenTeal tears eye drops. The medications were readily accessible to unauthorized individuals and were not protected from improper temperature, humidity, and light controls. During an interview, the unit manager acknowledged that the medications should not have been stored in an unlocked drawer, as this allowed easy access.