HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of policies, procedures, observations in the emergency department (ED) and staff interview, it was determined the administrator failed to ensure the privacy for 10 of 10 current ED patients in a hallway.

Findings include:

The hospital policy titled Patients Rights and Responsibilities required: "...You have the right to reasonable privacy. The hospital, your doctor, and other (sic) caring for you will protect your privacy appropriately...."

The ED Director, during an interview on 05/02/12 at 0830 hours, explained that the ED has privacy curtains for patients placed in the hall.

A tour of the ED was conducted with the ED Director on 05/02/12 at 0845 hours. The privacy curtains were observed in a storage area in hallway A.

At 0845, three patients were observed in hallway A of the ED. None of the patients in hallway A had portable privacy curtains around the gurneys.

A second tour of the ED was conducted on 05/03/12 at 1400 hours with the Compliance Director.

Seven patients were observed in the hallway on gurneys. None of the 7 patients in hallway A had portable curtains for privacy around the gurneys. Fire department personnel and police department personnel were observed in hallway A during the tour.

The Director of Compliance confirmed the observations on 05/03/12.