Medication Storage Lapse: Topical Medication Left Unsecured
Penalty
Summary
A bottle of ketoconazole 2% shampoo, prescribed for a resident with seborrheic dermatitis, was found unattended on top of a toilet in a shared restroom. The medication was intended for topical use on the scalp and was ordered to be applied on specific days. Facility policy requires all drugs and biologicals to be stored in locked compartments, with access limited to authorized personnel. During an observation, the shampoo was not secured in the treatment cart as required, but instead left in a location accessible to others. The resident involved had intact cognition and was independent with personal care tasks, including hygiene and toileting. The treatment nurse confirmed during an interview that the medication should have been stored in the treatment cart for safety, in accordance with facility policy. The facility's policy and procedure on medication storage, reviewed earlier in the year, specifies that all medications must be stored securely and only accessible to authorized staff. The failure to secure the ketoconazole shampoo constituted a breach of these requirements.