Unlabeled Open Insulin Pen Found During Medication Cart Inspection
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that an opened Humulin 70/30 insulin pen, used to control high blood sugar, was stored at room temperature in a medication cart without being labeled with an open date. This insulin pen was designated for a specific resident and was found during an inspection of one of the medication carts. According to the manufacturer's specifications, once opened or stored at room temperature, Humulin 70/30 insulin pens must be used or discarded within 31 days, and the open date must be clearly labeled to ensure compliance. The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) present confirmed that the insulin pen was open, stored at room temperature, and not labeled with an open date, acknowledging that this labeling is required to track expiration based on manufacturer guidelines. A review of the facility's medication storage policy, revised in May 2024, indicated that all drugs and biologicals must be stored in a safe, secure, and orderly manner, with proper temperature controls and labeling as required. The policy also specifies that medications requiring refrigeration should be stored in a designated refrigerator. The failure to label the opened insulin pen with the date it was opened was contrary to both the manufacturer's requirements and the facility's own policy.