Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Medical Appointment Preparation
Penalty
Summary
A cognitively intact resident was not informed in advance of a scheduled outside medical appointment. The transportation driver received notice of the appointment early in the morning and notified the facility nurse, but the resident was only awakened by two night shift aides shortly before departure. As a result, the resident did not have sufficient time to perform her usual morning routine, which included bathing, selecting appropriate clothing, and applying makeup. Instead, she attended the appointment in her nightgown and underwear, using wipes for personal hygiene, and was unable to prepare herself as she preferred. Interviews with staff confirmed that the resident typically liked to be prepared for appointments and would request to be awakened early if she was aware of them. The scheduler maintained a personal planner with all resident appointments, and the appointment in question was documented. The resident expressed feeling angry and unimportant due to the lack of notice and inability to present herself as she wished for the appointment. Facility leadership acknowledged that residents have the right to choose their attire when leaving the facility.