Failure to Secure Medication Cart and Resident Information
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of residents' personal and medical records as required by facility policy and HIPAA regulations. On two separate occasions, a medication cart was observed left unattended in the hallway with the computer screen open to resident information and the cart itself unlocked. No staff were present at the cart during these times. During interviews, the LPN responsible acknowledged that she should have locked the computer and secured the cart before leaving to attend to other duties, such as entering the dining room or administering medications to a resident. These lapses in protocol resulted in resident information being accessible and visible to unauthorized individuals, contrary to the facility's documented privacy practices.