Unlocked Medication Cart on 500 Hall
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to medication storage when, during observation of one of four medication carts (the MA Med Cart for 500 Hall) on 3/16/2026 at 1:54 p.m., the cart was found unlocked. In an interview at 1:56 p.m., the medication aide assigned to that cart confirmed it was unlocked and explained it was left that way because she was putting items away and preparing for a shift change to another hall. She acknowledged that the cart should not be unlocked because it would be unsafe for residents to have access to the medications. In a subsequent interview on 3/19/2026 at 10:04 a.m., the ADON stated the medication cart should have been locked to prevent unauthorized access and for resident safety. Review of the facility’s “Medication Storage” policy showed that all drugs and biologicals are required to be stored in locked compartments, with access to keys limited to authorized personnel, indicating the unlocked cart was not in compliance with facility policy. No specific residents, medical histories, or clinical conditions were mentioned in relation to this incident in the report.
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.