Improper Labeling and Storage of Insulin and Medications on Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors found that the facility failed to ensure all drugs and biologicals were labeled and stored according to professional standards on two of four medication carts observed. Specifically, open and undated vials of Novolin, Lantus, lispro, and NovoLog insulins were found on the second-floor south and east medication carts. Manufacturer guidelines for these insulins require that they be discarded 28 days after opening, but the vials observed were not dated, making it impossible to determine if they were still safe for use. Additionally, expired vials of Lispro and Novolin were present in the cart, and these findings were confirmed by the LPNs present during the observations. Further inspection of the medication carts revealed numerous unidentified loose pills behind medication containers in the top drawer of one cart. These issues were confirmed by the staff present at the time of observation. The failure to properly label, date, and store medications, as well as the presence of expired and unidentified medications, constituted noncompliance with pharmacy and nursing service regulations.