Expired Stock Medications Not Removed from Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that expired stock medications were present in the medication cart, including bottles of sodium chloride, guaifenesin, vitamin B-6, folic acid, enteric coated aspirin, vitamin B-12, aspirin, stool softener capsules, and vitamin A, all with expiration dates that had already passed. During an interview, a staff member indicated that the responsibility for auditing expired stock medications was shared among herself and the nursing staff. Review of the facility's policy confirmed that outdated, contaminated, discontinued, or deteriorated medications are to be immediately removed from stock and disposed of according to established procedures. Despite this policy, expired medications remained accessible in the medication cart at the time of the survey.