HospitalInspections.org

Based on policy review, observations during tour and staff interview the hospital failed to maintain safety and quality of medical supplies as evidenced by 6 of 12 expired IV (intravenous) delivery kits, 2 of 10 expired vacuette (vacuum blood needles) blood collection needles, 4 of 4 green top vacutainers (blood collection tubes), 3 of 3 purple top collection tubes, and 4 of 4 angiocaths (needles for IV fluid administration).
The findings include:
Review of the facility policy "Management of Stock Rotation and Expired Products" revealed "...We will ensure that Material Resource Management (MRM) personnel are stocking and replenishing in a consistent manner to prevent deterioration and/or expiration of products."
Observation during tour of the Emergency Department on 08/06/2014 at 1300 revealed the unit was divided into two sides: "front" and "back". Observation during tour of the front Emergency Department Broselow pediatric crash cart revealed 12 IV delivery kits. Review of the IV delivery kits revealed an expiration date of November 2013 (8 months and 6 days expired) on 5 (five) of the IV delivery kits and February 2014 (8 months and 6 days expired) on one of the IV delivery kits.
Continued observation during tour of the "front" side of the Emergency Department clean supply room revealed 10 vacuette blood collection needles. Review of the vacuette blood collection needles revealed one with expiration date of May 2013 (12 months and 6 days expired) and one with expiration date of August 2012 (12 months and 6 days expired).
Continued observation during tour of the "front" side of the Emergency Department revealed (7) seven vacutainers (blood collection tubes); 4 green top blood collection tubes and 3 purple blood collection tubes. Review of the 4 green top blood collection tubes revealed expiration date of June 2014 (37 days expired); review of the purple top blood collection tubes revealed expiration date of June 2014 (37 days expired).
Observation during tour of the "back" side of the Emergency Department revealed (4) four angiocaths-IV catheters. Review of the angiocaths revealed one angiocath with expiration of February 2011 (2 years and 5 months expired) and (3) three angiocaths with expiration of May 2014 (2 months and 6 days expired).

Interview with Administrative Staff #1 during the tour and observation revealed the supplies were outdated and should have been removed from floor stock. Interview confirmed the hospital failed to maintain safety and quality of medical supplies as evidenced by expired medical supplies.

NC00091478