Unsecured Treatment Carts and Expired Medications Found in Medication Storage Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that three treatment carts on the 300 and 500 wings were left unlocked and unattended, containing medicated creams, ointments, and powders. Staff interviews confirmed that treatment carts should be locked when not in use, in accordance with the facility's Pharmacy Policy and Procedure Manual. Additionally, one medication cart and the medication storage room on the 300 wing contained multiple expired medications, medical supplies, and food items. These included expired povidone-iodine swab sticks and prep pads, oil emulsion dressings, medicated powder, triamcinolone cream, nystatin powder, protein shakes, inhalers, insulin pen needles, glucose solution, aspirin, insulin, juice, renal shakes, chocolate syrup, COVID-19 rapid tests, blood vials, and blunt fill needles. Staff, including an LPN and the DON, verified the presence of expired items and acknowledged that expired medications and supplies should not be stored in medication carts or storage rooms. The facility's policy requires all drugs and biologicals to be stored in locked compartments and for expired items to be removed from use. The failure to lock treatment carts and to remove expired items from medication storage areas was directly observed and confirmed by staff interviews.