Failure to Safeguard Resident Confidential Information
Penalty
Summary
A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) failed to safeguard a resident's confidential medical information by leaving a computer screen displaying the resident's clinical records unattended and visible in a hallway. The incident occurred when the LVN entered a resident's room to administer medication, leaving the computer with the resident's information accessible to others. The resident's medical record included sensitive information such as diagnoses of fibromyalgia, cardiomegaly, and acute respiratory failure with hypoxia. During interviews, the LVN acknowledged the lapse, attributing it to habit, and the Registered Nurse Supervisor confirmed that staff are expected to close or change the computer screen when stepping away. The Director of Nursing reviewed the facility's policy, which requires that computer screens showing clinical information not be left unattended or visible to unauthorized individuals, and acknowledged that the policy was not followed in this instance.