Improper Medication Storage and Failure to Remove Expired Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to properly store medications and remove expired medications from three of seven medication carts reviewed. Specifically, expired Hydroxyzine HCl tablets were found on one medication cart, and the medication was confirmed as expired by an LPN before being removed from storage. Additionally, Fluticasone Propionate Suspension nasal inhalation bottles were observed on two separate medication carts without caps on the nasal nozzles, with the boxes left open. These deficiencies were confirmed by nursing staff during interviews, who acknowledged the absence of caps and, in one case, stated the intention to discard and reorder the medication. Interviews with the DON, pharmacist, and administrator revealed that the facility's expectation is for medications without caps to be discarded and replaced, as replacement caps are not available. The facility policy requires that outdated, contaminated, or deteriorated medications be immediately removed from stock and disposed of according to procedures. Despite monthly checks by the pharmacist, these issues were present during the survey, indicating lapses in adherence to medication storage and labeling protocols.