Expired Medications Not Removed from Service
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to remove expired medications from areas where they could potentially be administered to residents. Specifically, two expired medications—a bottle of heartburn relief liquid antacid with an expiration date of 10/2024 and a bottle of Vitamin D3 soft gels expired since April 2023—were found in the Blue Medication cart. Additionally, two vials of Ativan, an antianxiety drug, with an expiration date of 07/2024, were discovered in the Blue medication room's emergency kit box. These findings were verified by a Certified Medication Aide and two administrative nurses, who confirmed the medications were expired and should have been removed from service. The facility's own policy required immediate withdrawal and proper disposal of outdated drugs, but this procedure was not followed, resulting in the continued presence of expired medications in medication storage areas.