HospitalInspections.org

Based on record review and interview, the hospital failed to maintain the patient's rights to personal privacy by disclosing detailed patient information without the consent of the patient or the patient's representatives for 1 (#1) of 5 records reviewed out of a total patient sample of 5.
Findings:

Review of the Patient Handbook revealed in part: For the protection of your confidentiality, staff cannot acknowledge your admission nor give out any information about you, unless you approve of the person receiving this information.

Review of Patient #5's authorization to provide verbal information regarding: My presence in the facility; My treatment progress; and My physical status were left blank and the consent was marked as "Unable to sign" and witnessed by the RN

Review of Patient #5 Medical Record revealed a Medical Power of Attorney document was received 05/16/2023 listing the patient's sister as primary agent and patient's boyfriend as secondary agent Power of Attorney (POA).

Review of Case Management Note dated 05/19/2023 revealed in part: Patient's pastor called on 05/18/2023. S3Therapist informed pastor of current status-Patient is urinating on herself, refusing medication, and sleeping under her mattress.

Interview 6/14/23 10:18 a.m., S2LCSW acknowledge S3Therapist should not have given the patient's pastor detailed patient information.

Based on record review and interview, the hospital failed to ensure initial reports of allegations of patient abuse/neglect of care were reported to Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Health Standards Section (HSS) within 24 hours of awareness of the allegation, as required by LDH-HSS, for 1 (#4) of 5 patients reviewed for self-reports to LDH-HSS from a total patient sample of 5.
Findings:

Review of Nurses Notes dated 06/10/2023 revealed in part: Sexual encounter may have occurred after patient entered male peer room. Physician notified and did not feel incident reported appropriately because the patient was not competent to consent to sex. Police were notified and spoke in person with Physician, LPN and ADON. Police did not speak with either patient.

Review of the hospital's Self-Reporting logs failed to reveal patient #4.

In an interview on 06/14/2023 at 10:00 a.m., S1Administrator confirmed the Self-Report was not sent within 24 hours of awareness of the allegation, as required by LDH-HSS.