HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, document review, and staff interview the facility failed to ensure expired medication and supplies were removed from the emergency cart so they would not be available for patient use.

Findings were:

During a tour of the facility on 1/4/17 at 4:45 p.m. the contents of the emergency crash cart was examined. The following medications/supplies were found to be expired:
* Lidocaine 100mg/5ml abboject syringe expired December 2016
* Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4% abboject syringe expired 1 Jan 2017
* 5-110 ml containers of 0.9% sodium chloride; all expired 06-2015
* 20 packages lubricating gel expired in July 2016 and October 2016
* Multi-lumen CVC (Central venous catheter) kit expired 2016-09

Review of documentation log of daily check of the emergency crash cart revealed the cart was checked on a twice daily basis by the registered nurses. A tag affixed to the emergency cart indicated a medication was to expire in December 2016.

In an interview with the CEO at the time of the discovery she acknowledged the medication and supplies were expired and still available for use for patients.

Based on a tour of the facility and staff interview the facility failed to maintain the integrity of equipment used by patients to prevent the possibility of cross contamination between patients.

Findings were:

During a tour of the facility on 1/4/17 at 4:45 p.m. the following was noted:
* The therapy room contained multiple wheelchairs, walkers, and other equipment. Some were noted as dirty and some were covered as clean. Other items were not noted as dirty or clean and were stored beside clean equipment. The room looked more of a storage room. Wheelchairs were lined up on the equipment and dust and debris covered equipment.
* Bedside tables and overbed tables in the patient rooms were missing laminate and also had chips exposing the pressed wood under the laminate.
* Bedside chairs had multiple rips/tears in the cushions.

In an interview at the time of the findings the CEO acknowledged the disrepair of the equipment and the possibility of cross contamination between patients.

Failure to maintain the integrity of the equipment surfaces leads to inadequate cleaning between patients and can lead to cross contamination between patients.