Mail Opened Without Resident Permission
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the Director of Nursing (DON) opened a resident's personal mail without the resident's permission. The resident, a sixty-six-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, sleep apnea, type II diabetes, major depression, anxiety disorder, and hypertension, was alert and oriented and able to make his needs known. The DON opened a package addressed to the resident after being informed by the receptionist that it likely contained medications. The DON found several bottles of pills inside, placed them in the medication cart, and later informed the resident about the package and the handling of his medications. The resident reported to surveyors that his mail was opened without his consent and expressed concern about not knowing what was sent or how many pills were received. The resident's family member confirmed that the resident had communicated this concern. The facility's policy, as well as the Ombudsman Program guidelines, clearly state that mail must be delivered promptly and not opened without the resident's permission. Both the DON and the facility administrator acknowledged that the mail should not have been opened without the resident's consent or presence.