Medication Storage and Labeling Deficiencies Identified
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified deficiencies related to medication storage and labeling for two residents. For one resident with diagnoses including weakness, GERD, vitamin D deficiency, and osteoporosis, observations revealed an opened bottle of store brand antacid and a tube of hemorrhoid cream kept at the bedside and in the bathroom, respectively. The resident stated these items were brought in by a friend and used as needed, and that staff were too busy to provide them. Review of physician orders confirmed active orders for both medications, but there was no order permitting the resident to keep these medications at bedside. Staff interviews confirmed awareness that antacids should not be kept at bedside without a physician order, and there was uncertainty regarding the hemorrhoid cream. For another resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, and asthma, surveyors observed a multi-use vial of NovoLog insulin on the medication cart that was not dated when opened. The LPN present confirmed the vial was not dated and could not verify when it had been opened. Facility policy and professional standards require multi-use vials to be dated upon opening to ensure safe use. These findings affected two out of sixteen residents reviewed for medication storage and had the potential to affect all residents in the facility.