Expired Medications and Incomplete Refrigerator Temperature Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple instances where expired medications and medical supplies were not disposed of in a timely manner across several medication carts and storage rooms. Specifically, expired scalpels, dermal curettes, and wound care supplies were found in the medication storage room, and staff interviews confirmed these items should have been discarded. Additionally, expired medications such as Neomycin eye ointment, Milk of Magnesia, Hemoccult Sensa Developer, Sani-cloth bleach wipes, Bisacodyl suppositories, silver collagen wound gel, and Nitroglycerin tablets were found on various medication carts. Staff acknowledged that these items were expired and should have been removed according to facility policy, which requires the disposal or return of outdated drugs and supplies. Further deficiencies were identified in the monitoring and documentation of medication refrigerator temperatures. Temperature logs for the 500-unit medication room refrigerator showed missing daily entries for both May and June, contrary to staff expectations that temperatures should be checked and recorded daily. Staff interviews confirmed that the lack of daily monitoring was not in line with facility procedures. The facility's policy mandates that all drugs and biologicals be stored safely and securely, and that expired or discontinued items be promptly removed, but these standards were not consistently met as evidenced by the survey findings.