HospitalInspections.org

Based on observations during nursing unit tours, and staff interviews, the hospital's nursing staff failed to prevent expired supplies from being available for patient use on 1of 2 inpatient nursing units toured.

Findings include:

Review of policies revealed no policy for performing controls on glucometer (machine to check blood glucoses at bedside).

1. Observations during tour on 01/26/2016 at 1230 of the hosptial's 4th floor LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) unit revealed 2 bottles of High Control solution (prepared solution to verify accuracy of elevated blood glucoses) with lot no. 0414357303. Observation revealed #1 bottle with opened date of 09/21/2015 and handwritten expiration date of 12/21/2015 (36 days expired). Observation of #2 bottle revealed a handwritten open date of 09/06/2015 and expiration date of 12/06/2015 (51 days expired). Observation of low controls (prepared solution to verify accuracy of low blood glucoses) for glucometer revealed 2 bottles with handwritten opened dates of 09/21/2015 and expiration dates of 12/21/2015 (36 days expired). Observation of #2 low control bottle revealed no handwritten open date or expiration date.

Interview of AS #1 on 01/26/2016 at 1233 revealed controls had been used nightly by the secretary staff indicating the glucometer would not operate until the controls had been performed. Interview revealed nursing staff had failed to use in date controls for glucometer. Further interview revealed no policy available for review of use of controls. Further interview revealed controls are good for 3 months after opening.

2. Review of the hospital's policy dated 04/21/2015 "Disposition of Material and Equipment," revealed "Medical Supplies Outdated: 1. Central Supply accumulates medical supplies that are outdated or no longer used within the health system...." Observations during tour on 01/26/2016 at 1230 of the hospital's 4th floor LTAC unit revealed two 20 G (gauge--size of needle) angiocath (used for delivering intravenous fluids) with expiration dates of 08/2014 (1 year and 5 months expired) and 09/2015 (4 months expired). Observation revealed two surgical sutures, Ethicon 4.0 and 3.0 with expiration dates of 07/2014 (1 year and 6 months expired) and expiration date of 07/2015 (6 months expired).

Interview of AS #1 (Floor manager) on 01/26/2016 at 1235 revealed supplies were available for patient care and were expired.