Failure to Protect Resident Health Information During Shift Reports
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain the confidentiality of residents' personal and medical records by conducting verbal shift reports in areas where other residents could overhear protected health information. Multiple residents with intact cognition reported overhearing details about other residents' diagnoses and medications during staff conversations at the nurses' station. One resident stated that she and others became aware of confidential medical information due to these discussions, and another resident, a former nurse, confirmed that she could hear health information during staff shift reports. A staff LPN acknowledged that shift reports were held at the nurses' station and admitted that residents could overhear protected health information, recognizing this as a HIPAA violation. The DON stated that private areas were available for such reports and did not expect staff to discuss confidential information within earshot of residents. Facility policy required staff-to-staff communication, such as shift reports, to be conducted outside the hearing range of residents and the public, but this was not followed, resulting in a breach of confidentiality for all residents in the facility.