F0761

E

Unlocked Medication Cart and Expired Aspirin in Medication Storage Room

Bloomfield, New Mexico Survey Completed on 01-09-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves failure to ensure medications were securely stored and properly monitored for expiration. On the 100 Hall, a medication cart was observed unlocked and unattended. An LPN acknowledged stepping away from the cart and leaving it unlocked, despite stating it was his expectation to lock the cart when unattended and not in use. The DON stated that staff should never leave a medication cart open and unattended and that her expectation was that all medication carts are locked when not in use. The Administrator also stated his expectation that all medication carts be locked when not in use.

In the medication storage room, surveyors observed one sealed bottle of Aspirin 325 mg with an expiration date of 06/25 that remained in stock. An LPN confirmed the Aspirin had expired and should have been removed. The DON stated that finding expired medications in the medication room did not meet her expectations and that the medication should have been disposed of properly and immediately. These observations show that expired medication remained available in the storage area and that medication security practices were not consistently followed.