Failure to Secure and Properly Manage Medications and Treatment Carts
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to properly secure and label medications and treatment supplies. Surveyors observed multiple treatment carts unlocked and unattended in hallways on several occasions. One treatment cart was found unlocked and unattended outside a resident room in the morning and again at midday, and a second-floor treatment cart was also left unlocked and unattended in the South hallway. Staff, including an RN and LPNs, confirmed that these carts were left unlocked and unattended at the times observed. In addition, the East Hall medication cart contained opened ipratropium bromide, albuterol, and fluticasone that were not dated as required, which was confirmed by an LPN. The deficiency also includes treatment medications left at residents’ bedsides instead of being properly stored. For one resident, surveyors observed a container of Vashe (hypochlorous acid wound cleanser) and a tube of zinc oxide on the nightstand while the resident was out of bed in a wheelchair; an LPN confirmed these items were present on the nightstand. For another resident, a tube of triamcinolone cream was observed on the bedside stand while the resident was sitting out of bed in a chair, and this was also confirmed by an LPN. These observations demonstrate that medications and treatment products were not consistently stored in locked compartments or otherwise secured in accordance with professional standards and facility policy.
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.