Failure to Properly Label and Remove Expired Medications
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to properly label and store medications and biologicals as required by facility policy and professional standards. During an observation of the medication room refrigerator, an opened insulin glargine pen belonging to a resident was found without an open date or discard date. Additionally, a medication cart inspection revealed a bottle of Thera High Potency Vitamin Dietary Supplement that had expired, yet remained in use. The bottle had been dated when placed in the cart, but the expiration date had passed. Licensed nursing staff confirmed that insulin pens are to be dated when opened and expired medications are to be discarded. Administrative staff also verified that medications should be removed once expired and that insulin pens require both an open date and an expiration date. Facility policies on medication administration and pharmacy services require all drugs and biologicals to be labeled according to accepted professional principles, including expiration dates, and to be stored and administered safely.