F0761

D

Expired and Unsecured Medications on Unit and in Resident Room

Meridian, Idaho Survey Completed on 04-03-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow its Medication Storage policy requiring all drugs and biologicals to be stored in locked compartments. One resident, readmitted with dysphagia, disease of the esophagus, and a gastrostomy, had a care plan indicating supervision for self-administration of nutrition and an assessment stating he required assistance to store medications in a secure location. Surveyors observed two cups with white powdered residue, including one labeled for a specific administration time, on his nightstand along with six containers of Jevity nutritional supplement. The resident reported that nurses sometimes brought his medications to his room and left them on the nightstand for him to take when he was ready, and that he sometimes went into the hallway early in the morning to obtain his medications for the day, which he then kept on his nightstand. He also stated he self-administered his nutritional supplements and that staff provided him with a case of Jevity to self-administer. The CRN later stated she had not been informed that medications were being left on this resident’s bedside table.

The deficiency also includes the presence of expired medications on a medication cart. During inspection of a medication cart on one wing, surveyors found 19 packets of Bacitracin ointment in a clear plastic cup in the bottom drawer, all bearing an expiration date that had passed. When questioned, an LPN confirmed the Bacitracin ointment was expired and stated that expired medications should be disposed of. When asked about the process for checking medication carts for expired medications, the DON reported there was no designated schedule for such checks and indicated that nurses were expected to watch for expired medications during medication pass.