Unauthorized Photography Violates Resident Privacy
Penalty
No penalty information released
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's right to privacy and confidentiality by allowing unauthorized photography of personal care items. According to facility policy, resident privacy and security must be maintained, and clinical records showed that the resident, who had multiple sclerosis and no cognitive impairment, had explicitly declined authorization for any images to be taken or used. Despite this, documentation revealed that a nurse aide took a photograph of the resident's waste products and showed it to another nurse aide, who confirmed that similar photographs had been shown in the past. The Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged that this action was against facility policy.