Failure to Protect Resident Privacy During Discharge Planning Discussion
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a staff member, specifically a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Coordinator (PRSC), disclosed a resident's personal information to another resident during a discussion about discharge planning and housing. The PRSC used the resident's name and specific details about her housing situation as an example while speaking to another resident, rather than using a generalized or anonymous example. This disclosure was confirmed by interviews with the resident involved, the PRSC, the Director of Nursing (DON), and other staff, all of whom acknowledged that the resident's name and situation were inappropriately shared. The resident whose information was disclosed was cognitively intact and had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. She reported the incident to the facility administrator, expressing that her privacy rights had been violated. Facility records and progress notes corroborated that the resident did not want her name mentioned in conversations with other residents. The facility's policies on resident rights and privacy require the protection of personal and medical information, which was not upheld in this instance.