HospitalInspections.org

Based on document review and interview, facility failed to adhere to the procedure for examining patients in a private consultation room in the ED (Emergency Department) to ensure patients rights to privacy.

Findings include:

1. Facility document titled Patient Rights and Responsibilities indicated under Privacy: personal and informational: You are entitled to privacy in treatment and in caring for your personal needs. This includes the right to be interviewed and examined in a surrounding designed to assure reasonable privacy. You have a right to an environment which preserves your dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.

2. In interview on 12/16/25 at approximately 1037 hours with A13 (Emergency Department Manager), he/she indicated the ED uses the Lever document when they have increased capacity and are boarding six or more patients in the ED. The ED has fast track rooms where patients are placed in recliners together with a small divider between them. If the physician is ready to examine the patient, the procedure is for the patient to be moved to a private consultation room. Patients are not to be examined in front of other patients.

3. In interview on 12/16/25 at approximately 1320 hours with N2 (RN [Registered Nurse]), he/she indicated he/she has seen physicians come into the fast-track rooms several times and examine patients with other patients present. The patients are supposed to be moved to a private consultation room for examination, discussion of condition and treatment. N2 confirmed that patient privacy does not always happen.

4. In interview on 12/16/25 at approximately 1330 hours with N1 (RN), he/she indicated the best practice is for the patient to be moved from the fast-track area to a private consultation room for an examination by the physician. N1 has seen physicians examine patients in the fast-track chairs, it is not ideal.

5. In interview on 12/16/25 at approximately 1345 hours with MD1 (D.O. [Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine] Acute Care Service Line Executive), he/she indicated due to increased ED capacity that he/she had examined a patient in a fast track chair and tried to pull the divider for privacy and talk lower, it is not ideal, but it does happen. The procedure is to take the patient to a private consultation room for examination, about 10% of the time it does not happen, and patients are examined near other patients.