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Based on the tour of the facility's surgical services, interview with staff, review of policy, and review of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) it was determined that the facility failed to follow the policy regarding securing of medications. The facility had a total of 15 operating rooms with 35 patients listed on the surgery schedule for 4/28/10.
Findings include:

A tour of surgical services which is located on the first and second floors of the hospital was conducted on 04/28/10 at 1:30 PM. During a walk-through of the supply room located outside the surgical suites on the second floor, an unsecured medication (Ultane) was observed. The medication was located on the third shelf approximately 4 feet away from the door that leads to the surgical corridor. Further examination of the 250 milliliter bottle revealed that the medication was Ultane (Sevoflurane) a medication used by anesthesia to reduce the sensitivity of pain and produce a period of unconsciousness. Review of the manufacturers safety data sheet (MSDS) revealed that Ultane is a non flammable liquid but with excessive inhalation causes headache, dizziness, nausea, incoordination, slow heart beat and difficulty in breathing. If this substance is introduced to an individual who suffers from other ailments of the respiratory or nervous system these individuals can have an increase of the above symptoms. In the event of exposure there is no known antidote.
Review of the surgical policy #88.00 " Medication Policies and Procedure " revealed that medications will be stored in locked areas/locations/carts. When storage areas are not locked, the storage area will be under constant surveillance by Hospital staff authorized to handle medications or be stored in a secure area (OR) in order to avoid unauthorized access of medications.
This finding was confirmed by staff # 5, 6, 8, and 9 during the walk through of surgical services on 4/28/10 at 1:50 PM.