Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity by Not Concealing Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to uphold a resident's right to respectful and dignified care by not properly applying a privacy cover to an indwelling urinary catheter collection bag. According to the facility's urinary catheter care policy, a privacy bag should be placed over the drainage bag when the resident is in public areas to preserve dignity. However, during an observation, the catheter bag was attached to the bed frame and was visible from the open doorway, displaying its contents. The blue snap-on catheter bag cover was present but left unsnapped, failing to conceal the bag or its contents. The resident involved had been admitted with diagnoses including hemiplegia, hemiparesis following cerebral infarction, and neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder. The resident was documented as having severe cognitive impairment and was unable to participate in mental status interviews. The deficiency was confirmed during an interview with the DON, who acknowledged that the catheter cover had not been properly applied and did not provide adequate privacy for the resident.