Failure to Protect Resident Privacy and Confidentiality
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain residents' rights to privacy and confidentiality in two separate instances. For one resident with acute respiratory failure and a recent COVID-19 diagnosis, a sign was posted outside the resident's room that specifically identified the resident as having SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) or symptoms with positive testing. This sign was visible to anyone passing by, thereby compromising the resident's right to privacy regarding their health status. The Nursing Home Administrator later confirmed that the sign had been redacted to remove identifying information, but at the time of observation, the resident's confidential health information was exposed. In a separate incident, another resident with morbid obesity and major depressive disorder reported not receiving her incoming mail, specifically her monthly social security statements, unopened. The resident stated she had repeatedly asked the business office manager about this issue and only received a copy, not the original statement. The business office manager admitted to opening the resident's social security statements to assist with account balancing and tax purposes, despite the facility not being the resident's representative payee. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that residents have the right to receive their mail unopened and was unable to provide documentation that this right was upheld for the resident.