Question

Complaints from residents are confidential. This procedure is guaranteed by

A: The resident bill of rights
B: the facility policy
C: the rules of the state health department
D: the laws of the state

Answer 1

Confidentiality of resident complaints in healthcare facilities is primarily protected by the laws of the state, including federal laws such as HIPAA, which mandate the protection of patient information.

Step-by-step explanation:

Complaints from residents regarding their care and conditions in a healthcare facility should be treated with strict confidentiality to ensure their privacy rights are not violated. In the context of U.S. law, such confidentiality is guaranteed primarily by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed in 1996, which sets standards for the protection of patient information and requires entities like healthcare providers to maintain strict confidentiality of patient records.

While the question might also invoke elements of the resident bill of rights or state-specific laws, HIPAA is a federal law that would override facility policies or state department rules where privacy of health information is concerned. The correct answer to the question is: D: the laws of the state, as those laws would incorporate HIPAA's mandates for states.