Failure to Protect Resident Health Information at Nursing Station and Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to safeguard resident-identifiable information in accordance with accepted professional standards. On one occasion, a consultation report containing patient information was left upright and exposed on the counter of the 200-hall nursing station, making it visible to anyone passing by. An LPN later confirmed the report contained resident information and acknowledged it should have been covered or flipped over to prevent unauthorized viewing. Additionally, a computer screen on a medication cart in the 100-hallway was observed displaying medication information for a resident while unattended. An LPN confirmed the computer was left on and displaying resident information, stating that the screen should have been locked to prevent exposure. The Staff Development Coordinator also confirmed that resident documentation should not be left exposed and that medication cart computers should be locked when unattended, as per facility policy.