Expired Medications Found in Medication Storage Room
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals in one of two medication storage rooms were not expired. During an inspection of the 2nd floor medication room (2-East), expired stock medications were found in the cabinet, including a bottle of Calcium with Vitamin D with an open date of 11/22 and an expiration date of 7/2025, two unopened bottles of Aspirin 325 mg with an expiration date of 6/2025, and three bottles of Iron 27 mg (one opened with an open date of 1/23/2025 and expiration date of 4/2025, and two unopened with expiration dates of 4/2025). These findings indicate that expired medications were present and accessible in the medication storage area. When interviewed, the registered nurse unit manager (RNUM) stated that they had checked the cabinets upon starting employment in July 2025 but must have missed the expired medications. The RNUM indicated that while anyone could check for expired medications, it was ultimately their responsibility to ensure the task was completed. The RNUM was unsure of the frequency of these checks but guessed they occurred monthly. The director of nursing (DON) confirmed that medication rooms should be checked often and that expired medications should not remain in the medication rooms.