Failure to Provide Privacy and Dignity During Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with diagnoses of sepsis, paraplegia, and a pressure ulcer of the left buttocks was not treated with dignity and respect during wound care. The facility's policy requires staff to explain procedures and provide privacy by screening the resident. However, during an observed wound care procedure, the resident was left with exposed buttocks for approximately two minutes after perineal care while staff prepared for a dressing change. During this time, multiple unnamed staff members entered and exited the room without introducing themselves or providing privacy for the resident. The resident, who was cognitively intact according to a recent assessment, reported that this lack of privacy and failure of staff to introduce themselves occurs frequently during care. The resident expressed discomfort and a sense that staff did not care about his privacy, as people would come and go during care without explanation or introduction, including staff delivering trays and housekeeping personnel. These actions were found to be inconsistent with the facility's policy and the resident's rights to dignity and respect.