Failure to Protect Privacy of Electronic Medical Records on Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves failure to protect the privacy and confidentiality of residents' personal and medical information by leaving medication carts unlocked and computer screens visible without privacy screens. During an abbreviated survey on multiple units, surveyors observed on 3 North that medication carts were left unattended in the hallway and near the nurse's station with the computers open and no privacy screens applied. At one point, a unit manager walked past an unattended, unlocked cart and then locked the cart and computer screen, but the cart had already been left unsecured. One LPN on 3 North stated they were not aware that the privacy screen was not applied, and another LPN acknowledged they should have applied the privacy screen when walking away from the cart. On 2 South, surveyors observed a medication cart in front of a resident room with the screen open to a specific resident's medication administration record while the assigned LPN was inside the room. That LPN stated they were busy and forgot to apply the privacy screen, and acknowledged they should have locked the cart and applied the privacy screen, demonstrating they knew how to do so. In another observation on 2 South, an LPN was obtaining vitals with a resident on one side of the nurse's station while the medication cart on the other side had no privacy screen on the computer. That LPN confirmed the privacy screen was not applied, despite the facility's Resident Rights to Privacy Policy stating that residents are to be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of their dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and care for personal needs.
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