Failure to Properly Label, Store, and Dispose of Medications and Personal Items in Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure all drugs and biologicals were properly labeled and stored according to professional standards on multiple medication and treatment carts. Specifically, a vial of insulin Glargine on the 2nd Floor Nurse-Med-Cart-A was found to be expired, discontinued, and not labeled with an open or expiration date. Additionally, a container of Hemorrhoidal Pads on the 2nd Floor Treatment Cart and cards of Promethazine and Tramadol on the 3rd Floor Nurse-Med-Cart-B were found to be expired but not removed from the carts. These expired medications and supplies were accessible and had not been disposed of as required by facility policy. Further, the 3rd Floor Treatment Cart was found to contain a large personal aluminum cup with a straw, which belonged to a staff member, in the bottom drawer alongside resident medications and supplies. Staff interviews confirmed awareness that personal items should not be stored with medications due to the risk of cross-contamination. Facility policy required medication carts to be kept clean, organized, and free of expired medications, but these procedures were not consistently followed, as evidenced by the presence of expired medications and personal items in the carts.