Failure to Properly Store and Remove Expired Medications and Biologicals
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that medications and biologicals were not properly stored or monitored for expiration in the facility. During observation, two medication cups containing Nystatin cream were found on a resident's nightstand, and the resident was unaware of why they were there or how long they had been present. The Nystatin cream had been left at the bedside, contrary to storage requirements. Additionally, an audit of a medication cart revealed a bottle of fiber supplement with an expiration date of 7/24 and a tube of muscle rub with an unclear expiration date of 12/12, both of which were expired and had not been discarded. Further review of the medication cart uncovered expired biologicals, specifically glucose test solutions with expiration dates of 10/10/25 and 10/12/25, which remained in use. Staff interviews confirmed that these expired medications and biologicals should have been removed but were not. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including COPD and diabetes, and was admitted to the facility prior to the observations.