Unattended Laptop Exposes Resident Health Information
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain the confidentiality of residents' medical records by leaving a laptop unattended on top of the medication cart in the 400 hall. The laptop was open and displayed a resident's name and medication list, making private health information visible to anyone passing by, including residents, staff, and visitors. This was directly observed during a survey, and the responsible RN confirmed leaving the laptop unattended with sensitive information accessible. Further observation revealed that the same unattended laptop displayed multiple resident records, again making confidential information accessible to unauthorized individuals. The facility's policy requires staff to turn off computer screens and not leave open medical records unattended, but this protocol was not followed. The administrator confirmed that nursing staff are expected to lock their laptop screens when stepping away from the medication cart to protect resident privacy.