Failure to Maintain Clean and Orderly Medication Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure proper storage and cleanliness of drugs and biologicals on one of four medication carts reviewed. Specifically, a bottle of lactulose was found in the medication cart drawer with sticky residue on its sides, and the bottle was stuck to the bottom of the drawer. During interviews, an LVN acknowledged that the bottle was sticky and should have been cleaned, and the DON confirmed that staff are expected to check medications prior to administration to ensure proper storage. Review of the facility's medication labeling and storage policy indicated that medications should be stored in an orderly manner and that nursing staff are responsible for maintaining medication storage areas in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition. The observed failure to maintain cleanliness and orderliness in the medication cart drawer directly contradicted the facility's policy and could affect the integrity of medications stored within.