Failure to Label and Store Medications According to Pharmacy Guidelines
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly label and store medications for seven residents during a medication cart inspection. Specifically, multiple inhalers, eye drops, and insulin pens were found either open and not dated or stored incorrectly. For example, two inhalers and several eye drop bottles were open without being dated, despite pharmacy recommendations and stickers indicating that these medications should be dated upon opening to determine expiration. Additionally, unopened insulin pens were stored at room temperature in the medication cart instead of being refrigerated as required by pharmacy instructions. Interviews with nursing staff and the Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to follow pharmacy guidelines for labeling and storing medications, including dating upon opening and refrigerating unopened insulin. The facility's pharmacy administration guide also specifies that eye medications with accelerated expiration dates must be dated and initialed when opened, and that manufacturer instructions or facility policy should be followed for all medications. These failures were identified for seven residents reviewed for medication storage and labeling.