F0761

D

Improper Labeling and Storage of Insulin and Other Medications

North Canton, Ohio Survey Completed on 01-30-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a failure to ensure medications remained in their original labeled packaging and that insulin products were properly labeled and not used past expiration. During observation of the Ridgeview medication cart with an LPN, an open vial of Lantus insulin was found without any label indicating the resident’s name, instructions for use, or the date it was opened. The LPN stated it must belong to a specific resident because he was the only one on that cart receiving Lantus, but confirmed the vial was unlabeled and would need to be discarded. In a separate observation, an RN prepared and administered insulin lispro to another resident from a vial whose refill date was visible but whose open date was illegible; a pharmacy representative confirmed the open date could not be read and that the insulin therefore should not be used.

Further review of the Southern Hills medication cart with the RN revealed additional medication storage issues. One resident had an open Humalog insulin pen with no documented open date. Another resident had Lantus insulin labeled with an open date of 12/23/25, raising concern in light of reference information indicating opened insulin should be discarded after 28 days. Surveyors also found two loose, unidentified pills in the cart. Review of the facility’s Medication Labeling and Storage policy showed that medication labels must include the resident’s name, multi-dose vials must be dated when opened and discarded within 28 days unless otherwise specified, and medications must be stored in the original packaging or dispensing systems in which they were received. These observations demonstrated noncompliance with the facility’s own policy and accepted standards for medication labeling and storage.