Failure to Date Opened OTC Medications on Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that over-the-counter medications, specifically acetaminophen and docusate sodium liquid, were stored in a medication cart without being labeled with the date they were first opened. This observation was made during a medication cart review, where it was noted that the containers lacked any indication of when they were initially accessed. During interviews conducted at the time of observation, both the LVN and the DON confirmed that the medications should have been dated upon opening to ensure proper tracking of their use. A review of the facility's policy and procedure on medication labeling and storage indicated that medications and biologicals dispensed by the pharmacy must be labeled in accordance with federal and state requirements and accepted pharmaceutical practices. The policy specifically requires opened vials to be dated and discarded within a specified timeframe unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer. The failure to date the acetaminophen and docusate sodium liquid containers represents noncompliance with these established procedures.