Loose, Unlabeled Pills Found in Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that multiple medication carts in the facility contained numerous loose pills of various shapes and colors in the bottom compartments. Specifically, one medication cart on the skilled care hallway contained 19 loose pills, another on the long-term care hallway contained 92 loose pills, and a third cart on the same hallway contained 130 loose pills. During interviews, nursing staff confirmed the presence of these loose pills and stated they were unable to identify the medications or determine to whom they were prescribed. A review of the facility's medication storage policy, dated November 2021, indicated that drugs should be dispensed and stored in the manufacturer's original container. The observed practice of having loose, unidentified pills in the medication carts was not in accordance with this policy or accepted professional principles. This deficiency affected all residents in the facility, which had a census of 38 residents at the time of the survey.