Expired Medications Found in Central Supply Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that expired medications were not removed from storage in one of three medication storage rooms, specifically the Central Supply room. During an inspection, a box of hemorrhoidal suppositories with an expiration date of July 2025 was found, containing 12 suppositories. The Unit Coordinator confirmed the expiration date and stated that staff responsible for administering medications were expected to check expiration dates before removing medications from the Central Supply room and prior to administration. The Central Supply Coordinator reported that while she checked the room monthly to reorder supplies, she did not check for expired medications. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON and Administrator, revealed that the expectation was for staff to review expiration dates and dispose of expired medications before they left the Central Supply room. However, the presence of expired medication in the storage area indicated that this process was not consistently followed, resulting in expired drugs being available in the facility's medication storage.