Resident Medical Information Left Visible on Unattended Computer
Penalty
Summary
During a medication pass, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) left a computer unattended in the hallway with the screen visibly displaying a resident's private medical information. This occurred when the LPN stepped away from the computer to administer medication in the resident's room. The facility's policy, which aligns with federal and state laws, requires the privacy and confidentiality of all residents' medical records to be maintained. Both the LPN and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the computer screen should have been locked to prevent unauthorized access to the resident's information, and acknowledged that leaving the screen unattended constituted a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).