Medication Labeling and Storage Deficiencies with Incomplete Refrigerator Temperature Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure proper labeling and storage of medications, as well as consistent temperature monitoring for medication refrigerators. During medication administration observations, several opened bottles of house stock medications, including Melatonin, Vitamin B12, Magnesium Oxide, Guaifenesin, Aspirin, and Bisacodyl, were found without open dates on two medication carts. Interviews with nursing staff confirmed that the facility's expectation was for all opened house stock medications to be dated upon opening, but this was not consistently followed. Additionally, in one medication storage room, the refrigerator temperature log was found to be incomplete, with missing signatures and entries for several days and shifts across multiple months. The unit manager confirmed that temperatures were expected to be checked and documented twice daily, but this was not consistently done, as evidenced by gaps in the June and July logs. These findings demonstrate lapses in medication management practices as observed and documented by surveyors.