Failure to Maintain Resident Privacy and Confidentiality
Penalty
Summary
Staff at the facility failed to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of residents' personal and medical information. Multiple residents, both cognitively intact and moderately impaired, reported overhearing staff discussing other residents' health issues, care, and personal backgrounds in common areas such as the dining room, outside smoking areas, and even in residents' rooms. Some residents also stated that staff would make fun of other residents during these conversations. These discussions were reportedly held in the presence of other residents, families, and staff, with specific instances of staff using residents' names while talking about their care. Interviews with staff members, including CNAs and the Activities Director, confirmed that conversations about resident care occurred in common areas where they could be overheard by others. The facility's confidentiality agreement explicitly prohibits the sharing of resident information except as required for care or by authorized personnel. Despite this policy, the practice of discussing resident information in public areas was observed and reported, affecting the privacy rights of all 52 residents in the facility.