Failure to Protect Resident Privacy and Confidentiality
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of residents' personal and medical information, affecting three residents. For one resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses, the facility posted the resident's picture on social media without obtaining written consent from the resident or their representative, despite the representative's explicit request not to do so. The facility's policy required explicit written consent prior to releasing or transmitting resident images, which was not followed in this case. Another resident, also with severe cognitive impairment, was provided incontinence care by staff without the window curtain being closed, exposing the resident to potential view from the staff parking lot. Staff confirmed the curtain should have been drawn to ensure visual privacy. In a separate incident, a resident with Alzheimer's disease and other conditions had her blood sugar checked by an RN in the dining room in the presence of other residents, without visual privacy or obtaining consent. These actions were in direct violation of the facility's policies and residents' rights to privacy.