Unlocked and Unattended Wound Care Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to medication storage and security when a wound care medication cart was observed left unlocked and unattended outside a resident room. During the observation, the LVN responsible for the wound care cart exited the room, and the surveyor informed her that the cart was unlocked; the LVN then locked the cart. The cart contained drugs and biologicals and was required by facility policy to be locked when not in use and never left unattended while unlocked. In an interview, the LVN acknowledged she was responsible for the wound care cart and stated she was expected to lock it when walking away, explaining that she had left it unlocked because she forgot. She further stated that if the cart was left unlocked, a resident could open a drawer and take items not intended for them. In a separate interview, the DON confirmed the expectation that staff lock medication carts when they walk away and stated that a resident or visitor could grab medication from an unlocked cart and be harmed. Review of the facility’s undated “Storage of Medications” policy showed that all drugs and biologicals must be stored in a safe, secure manner, with all compartments containing medications locked when not in use and medication carts not left unattended while unlocked.
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