Medication Labeling and Storage Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified deficiencies in the facility's medication labeling and storage practices. In the second-floor low side medication room, the medication refrigerator was observed to be at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is above the recommended storage temperature for most medications. Additionally, the Medication Storage Monthly Temperature Log for this refrigerator had multiple days in September where temperatures were not recorded, and the temperatures that were logged consistently showed the highest allowable reading of 46 degrees Fahrenheit. These findings indicate a failure to monitor and maintain appropriate storage conditions for medications as required by facility policy and professional standards. Further, on the second-floor high side, a medication cart was found to contain an opened Lantus insulin pen that was not dated. Staff interviews confirmed that opened medications are required to be dated upon first use, and that this procedure was not followed. The Nursing Home Administrator and DON acknowledged that the medication refrigerator log was incomplete, the high temperature was not addressed, and the opened insulin pen was not properly dated, all of which are contrary to facility policy and regulatory requirements.