Resident Meal Tickets with PHI Left Unattended in Memory Unit
Penalty
Summary
Sixteen resident meal tickets containing sensitive information, including residents' names, allergies, and therapeutic diets, were left unattended on a table in the facility's memory unit dining area. This was observed during a visit with the Registered Dietician, who acknowledged that the meal tickets should not have been left out and should have been taken to the shredder, identifying the situation as a HIPAA violation. The Director of Nursing also confirmed that leaving meal tickets unattended constitutes a HIPAA violation and that such documents need to be shredded. Review of the facility's policy indicated that employees are required to safeguard protected health information (PHI) and ensure proper disposal to prevent unauthorized access.