Medication Storage Lacked Expiration Date Labeling
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store medication with the expiration date visible on its packaging in accordance with state laws and regulations. During an inspection of the medication storage room for the 300/400 halls, a box containing a [NAME] boot, which is a wet compression dressing used for venous ulcers, was found without an expiration date. The date had been torn off the box, and there was no date on the foil package itself. The Director of Clinical Operations (DCO) was present during the observation, discarded the box, and stated she did not know why the expiration date was missing or why the item was stored in the medication room. Further interviews with the Administrator and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed the importance of having expiration dates on medications, as expired medications could lose potency and effectiveness. A review of the facility's Pharmacy Services policy also indicated that expiration dates are a critical element of drug labeling. The deficiency was limited to one of two medication rooms observed during the survey.