Failure to Protect Resident Health Information Privacy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of residents' personal and medical records on three out of five nursing units. Observations revealed that unattended, unlocked computer screens displaying resident information were left visible at the nursing stations on units three and five. Additionally, on unit four, a document containing resident information was left unattended on top of a treatment cart in the hallway. These incidents were documented with photographic evidence and confirmed by staff interviews. Staff members acknowledged that facility protocol requires computer screens to be turned off and resident information to be kept private when unattended. However, staff admitted to leaving information exposed due to being away from the computer or assisting residents. Review of the facility's Health Information Management: Privacy policy confirmed the requirement to protect individually identifiable health information in all forms, but the observed actions did not comply with this policy.