HospitalInspections.org

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Based on observation and interview, the Emergency Department Staff did not ensure that patient environmental safety was maintained. This was evident in twenty (20) random observations of unlocked Intravenous (IV) and Blood Draw Storage Carts in Patient Care Areas.

These lapses in environmental safety placed patients and visitors at increased safety risk.

Findings include:

Observations in the facility's Acute Care Adult Green ED during a tour on 05/13/19 between 10:00AM and 1:30PM identified that the supply cart in Patient Treatment Room #4-206, containing IV insertion needles and blood draw needles, was unlocked and accessible to patients/visitors. Unsecured and accessible urine culture collection tubes with needles were found on a counter top.

Additional observations of unsecured sharps were found in fourteen (14) Adult ED Patient Care Rooms.

During a tour of the Pediatric ED in the afternoon of 05/13/19, one (1) unlocked supply cart containing needles was identified in Room #5. These supply carts were observed to contain locks but were found unlocked and accessible to patients and visitors in Patient Care Areas.

Similar observations of unlocked supply carts containing needles were identified in Pediatric Patient Treatment Rooms #1, #3, #6 and #8.

Per interview of Staff A (Education Specialist) and B (Nurse Manager) on 05/13/19 at the time of the observation, Staff A and B confirmed the supply carts were to be kept locked to prevent unauthorized access by patients or visitors.

The Policy for the storage or security of sharps / needles in Patient Care Areas was requested at the time of the observation, but none was available.
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Based on observation, document review and interview, the facility did not ensure that patient privacy was protected. This was evident in the observations of unsecured and accessible patient information in Patient Care Areas and at Nursing Work Stations.

These lapses in the protection of patient privacy placed patients at risk for potential health information breaches.

Findings include:

On 05/13/19 at 11:55AM, Patient #16's laboratory requisition with identifying information was observed at a Nursing Station, unsecured and accessible by patients or visitors.

This observation was made in the presence of Staff A (Clinical Nurse Specialist) who confirmed the finding.

On 05/15/19 at 8:50AM, Patient #18's labels with identifying information were observed on a counter in the patient's room unsecured and accessible by visitors.

This observation was made in the presence of Staff B (Nurse Manager), who confirmed the finding.

Similar findings of unsecured and accessible patient information were observed for Patients #15 and #17.

The facility Policy and Procedure titled "Confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI)" last revised 10/28/16, directed workforce staff to "keep PHI safe from public viewing ... and ensure PHI is not left in conference rooms, on desks, on counters or other areas where the information may be accessible to the public, to employees or individuals who do not have a need to know the PHI."