Failure to Remove Expired and Unidentified Medications from Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure proper storage and removal of expired and unidentified medications and biologicals from medication and treatment carts. During observations, expired medications such as Vitamin D3, Iron, Bisacodyl suppositories, Humalog insulin, and Albuterol inhaler were found on two medication carts. Additionally, several loose, unidentified pills were present in the carts. The facility's policy requires that expired, contaminated, or deteriorated medications be immediately removed from stock and disposed of according to procedures, but these requirements were not followed as evidenced by the presence of expired and loose medications. Further, an open and expired non-sterile valve and expired povidone iodine solution were found on a treatment cart. Interviews with nursing staff revealed that floor nurses, managers, and agency staff are responsible for checking the carts, but expired and loose items were still present. The facility's procedures for checking and removing expired items were not effectively implemented, resulting in the continued storage of expired and unidentified medications and biologicals.