Expired Medications Found on Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that medication cart #1 on the 400 hall contained one bottle of Gentle Lax with an expiration date of 03/2025 and one bottle of Acetaminophen 500mg with an expiration date of 04/2025. These expired medications were not removed from the cart as required. During an interview, an LVN acknowledged missing the expiration dates and stated that administering expired medications would not be safe, as they could cause adverse reactions or be less effective. The Director of Nursing also confirmed that expired medications may not provide the intended therapeutic results or could potentially cause adverse reactions. A review of the facility's policy on "Medication Labeling and Storage" indicated that discontinued, outdated, or deteriorated medications should be returned or destroyed according to instructions from the dispensing pharmacy. The presence of expired medications on the medication cart demonstrates a failure to follow this policy and to provide pharmaceutical services that meet the needs of each resident.