Unlocked Medication Cart Left Unattended During Insulin Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure medications were properly stored in locked compartments and maintained under appropriate security, as required by its Storage of Medications Policy and professional standards. During observation, an LPN was seen obtaining supplies from a medication cart to administer insulin to a resident identified as R10, then leaving the medication cart unlocked and out of her visual control while she entered the resident’s room to give the insulin. At that time, there were no residents or staff observed near the unlocked cart, but a facility list documented that eight residents were ambulatory, and the facility’s census showed a total of 47 residents. The facility’s written policy required that all compartments containing drugs and biologicals, including carts, be locked when not in use and that carts not be left unattended if open or otherwise potentially available to others. This deficiency was identified based on observation of the insulin administration process, interview with the DON, and review of the facility’s Storage of Medications Policy and resident census information.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.