HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and interview, the hospital failed to protect the privacy of patients, in that the patient's physician is coming into the waiting room after surgery and talking to family with other visitors in the waiting room, the main lobby close by, the hallway, the gift shop and other passing public passing in the hall as the surgeon is telling specific details of the patient's surgery, how the patient was doing, diagnosis, plans for treatment, and plans for recuperation.

Findings:

This surveyor walked into the main lobby of the hospital and had a seat in the area labeled "Surgery Waiting Room." There were several people sitting in this area. After a few minutes past, a surgeon still in surgical attire came out and sit across from a man and told him the his wife was in recovery and that surgery had gone well. He said that it was expected and that now her work begins with her knee. He stated that she will be needing to work at first at keeping the leg straight and in alignment and then the walking will come. He told the man that she would be in the hospital a couple of days.
Within a few minutes, another surgeon came out and spoke to a lady sitting across from where I was sitting. The surgeon told her that her mom was coming out of surgery and that she had done well. He stated that the surgery was difficult as they had anticipated but that she did pretty good. He went on to relate that his partner would be out to speak with him in a few minutes.

An interview with Personnel #1 at approximately 10:45 AM confirmed the physicians were coming out into the waiting room to speak to the patient's family. When asked why the physicians were not using the area marked "Consult" in the surgery waiting area which was a small room, Personnel #1 stated that the Physicians would not use it.