Improper Medication Storage and Labeling on Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store drugs and biologicals in accordance with accepted professional standards on the 300/400 hall medication cart. Specifically, an insulin pen that had been opened and previously used for a resident was found without an open date written on the pen, contrary to facility policy which requires insulin products to be labeled with the date when first used. Additionally, the medication cart contained a manufacturer's box of single-use polyvinyl alcohol 1.4% eye drop applicators, but the lot number on the box did not match the lot numbers printed on the individual applicators inside. These findings were confirmed in the presence of the DON, who acknowledged that insulin pens should be labeled with the date of opening and that medications should remain in their original manufacturer's containers with matching lot numbers. The observations were made during a review of the medication cart and through staff interviews, indicating non-compliance with both facility policy and professional standards for medication storage and labeling.