Failure to Protect Residents from Abuse and Inappropriate Use of Media
Penalty
Summary
Staff D's employee file included a signed document acknowledging the rights of residents to be free from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property, exploitation, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, and unauthorized use of physical or chemical restraints. The facility's policies prohibit staff from taking or distributing photographs or recordings of residents in any manner that could demean or humiliate them, including sharing such content on social media or through multimedia messages. The employee handbook further restricts the use of personal cell phones while on duty and emphasizes the importance of maintaining resident confidentiality and dignity in all communications, including online activity. The facility also maintains a policy requiring a media release form to be signed by residents for any photographic or video recordings, specifying the intended use and allowing residents to revoke authorization at any time. Despite these documented policies and procedures, the report indicates a deficiency related to the protection of residents from all forms of abuse, including the inappropriate use of photographs or recordings, suggesting that the facility's practices or staff actions did not fully align with established protocols to safeguard resident rights and privacy.