HospitalInspections.org

Based on a review of facility policy and observation and interview with patients (PT) and staff (EMP), it was determined that the facility failed to adhere to their established policy for the right to personal privacy.

Findings include:

Review of Patient Rights and Responsibilities approved May 30, 2008, revealed that " A patient has the right to: respectful care given by competent personnel which reflects consideration of personal value and belief systems and which optimizes comfort and dignity..."

Tour of the 5th Floor Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), on July 9, 2010, at approximately 10: 35 AM, revealed the following:

1. PT1 was observed to be incontinent. A folded towel had been placed between the patient's legs. The patient was seated directly on a paper chux. There was a cloth chux placed on top of the paper chux to absorb urine.

2. PT3 was observed sitting in a lounge chair in their room. The patient was on a ventilator and was nonverbal. There was a urine odor noted in the hallway outside the room. Nursing staff was requested to check the patient for incontinence. When the patient was checked, a folded towel was observed between the patient's legs. PT3 was also sitting on a paper chux, which was observed to have a large yellow stain. There was also a cloth chux under the paper chux.

3. Interview with PT4 and PT5 on July 9, 2010, at approximately 10:50 AM and 11:30 AM confirmed that when the bed sheets get wet, the patients had to wait to have the sheets changed.

Interview with EMP5 on July 9, 2010, at approximately 2:00 PM, confirmed that the facility's policy for incontinence care does not include the placement of a towel to contain urine. In regard to the cloth chux under the paper chux, interview with EMP3 confirmed that the cloth chux would be used instead of a bed sheet when the patient is out of bed in a lounge chair.

4. PT2 was observed during a dialysis treatment. The patient's access for dialysis was located in the right clavicular area. The patient's right breast was exposed. The wall that divides the patient room from the hallway is made of glass, allowing visualization into the patient rooms. It was observed that a privacy curtain had been installed to cover the window wall. The privacy curtain was not pulled to provide privacy.

5. Interview with EMP2 on July 9, 2010, at approximately 12:15 PM, confirmed that the patient was exposed unnecessarily.