Unsecured Laptop Screen Exposes Resident Information
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a registered nurse (RN) left a laptop on a medication cart unlocked and unsupervised, displaying confidential resident information, while entering a resident's room during a medication pass. This incident was observed and confirmed through interviews with facility administration, who acknowledged that the laptop should have been locked to protect resident privacy in accordance with HIPAA requirements. The facility's policy on resident rights also states that residents have the right to secure and confidential personal and medical records. The failure to lock the computer screen allowed for the possibility that resident information could be seen or accessed by unauthorized individuals passing by. The report does not specify the identity or medical history of the resident whose information was exposed, nor does it provide details about their condition at the time of the incident.