Failure to Protect Resident Privacy by Posting Health Information in Room
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of a resident's personal health information by posting signage above the resident's bed that disclosed specific dietary requirements, namely 'nectar thick liquids with no straws.' This signage was observed during multiple surveyor visits and was confirmed by both a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and the Director of Nursing (DON). The CNA stated that the information was already included in the resident's plan of care and meal ticket, and expressed uncertainty about the need for the additional posting in the resident's room. The facility's policy on promoting and maintaining resident dignity explicitly prohibits posting personal information in resident rooms. Despite this, the sign remained in place, and neither the DON nor the Administrator could identify who had posted it or how long it had been there. The resident involved had a history of nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage and an active physician's order for nectar/mildly thick consistency liquids with no straws, which was the information disclosed on the posted signage.