Improper Storage of Expired and Unsecured Medications: Surveyors found opened Latanoprost eye drops stored in a resident’s room refrigerator without an order for self-administration, and additional opened Visine eye drops in a med cart drawer past the expected discard timeframe. The DON confirmed the resident did not have an order to keep meds at bedside or in the room refrigerator, and the facility policy required medications to be stored in locked, secured locations and outdated products to be removed.
A multi-dose vial of Applisol PPD TB was found in a medication cart with unclear labeling regarding its open and discard dates. A nurse could not determine the meaning of the date on the box and confirmed the medication should have been stored in a refrigerator, as per facility policy. The medication was not stored at the recommended temperature, and the labeling did not meet professional standards.
Expired medications, including Cranberry and Probiotic capsules, as well as a protein supplement with an illegible expiration date, were found on two medication carts during inspection. The ADON and an RN confirmed the presence of these expired or unlabeled items, which had not been removed as required by facility policy. The DON verified that all medications must be properly labeled and expired items should be immediately removed from active storage.
A medication cart was found unattended, unlocked, and with the keys left on top in a hallway, making medications accessible to unauthorized individuals. An RN confirmed the cart was left unsecured and out of sight, which was not in accordance with facility policy requiring medication carts to be locked and keys kept with nursing staff.
A resident with multiple medical conditions was found with a prescription eye drop medication left unsecured on the bedside table, contrary to physician orders and facility policy. An LPN confirmed the medication should have been stored in the medication cart, and the DON stated that medications are not to be left at the bedside and must be secured.
A multi-dose vial of Tuberculin PPD was found in the medication storage refrigerator without a cap and with a puncture site, but neither the vial nor its box was labeled with the date it was opened, contrary to facility policy and manufacturer instructions. The Infection Preventionist confirmed the vial was open and not dated.
Expired medications were found in two medication rooms and one medication cart, including Vitamin C and Insulin Lispro. An LPN attempted to administer expired Vitamin C to a resident, and the facility's policy requires checking expiration dates and removing expired medications.
The facility failed to properly label and dispose of multi-dose vaccine vials, leading to a deficiency in medication management. Surveyors found an expired Afluria MDV and an Aplisol TB MDV without an open date in the Station One medication refrigerator. The DON confirmed the expired flu vaccine should have been discarded, and the TB MDV should have been labeled with an open date, as it must be discarded 30 days after opening. The facility's policy requires contacting the pharmacy for instructions on handling outdated drugs.
The facility failed to properly store and monitor medications, as a refrigerator contained food items alongside vaccines, lacked a temperature log, and was unsecured. A multi-dose vial of Tubersol Solution was expired, and a medication cart was left unattended with an unlocked drawer. These actions violated the facility's policies on medication storage and administration.
The facility failed to secure medication and treatment carts, leaving them unlocked and unattended, which posed a risk of unauthorized access to medications and supplies. A treatment cart was left outside a nourishment room, and a medication cart was found unsecured in front of a resident's room. Staff acknowledged the carts should be locked, citing lost keys and potential lock issues.
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