HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, interview and policy review, the facility failed to ensure medications outdated, mislabeled, or otherwise unusable drugs and biologicals were not available for patient use. This had the potential to affect all of the facility's 117 active patients.


Findings include:


The facility's Medication Expiration Dating Policy and Procedure was reviewed. The policy stated multi-dose vials are discarded after 28 days. The preservatives in multi-dose vials are not expected to kill all of the "challenging" organisms, but to minimize microbial growth.


Observations of the facility's third floor medical/surgical unit were conducted on 11/15/16. A medication cabinet was observed on 11/15/16 at 2:22 PM with open vials of Heparin and Labetalol Hydrochloride. Both vials were observed without a date noting when the vials were opened and without a date revealing the 28 day expiration date.


The findings were confirmed with Staff H at the time of the observation.