Failure to Protect Resident Privacy During Patient Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's privacy during patient care, as required by facility policy. During a dressing change, laundry staff entered the resident's room after knocking but without waiting for permission to enter, despite nursing staff repeatedly announcing that patient care was in progress. The laundry staff left the door wide open while retrieving laundry, further compromising the resident's privacy. The resident involved had a history of significant medical issues, including thoracic spinal cord injury, paraplegia, and multiple stage 4 pressure ulcers. The resident was cognitively intact, as indicated by a perfect BIMS score. Facility policy clearly states that staff must knock, wait for a response, and only enter with permission, but this protocol was not followed during the incident.