SHENANDOAH, Iowa — Federal inspectors cited Garden View Care Center for violations related to the protection of resident records containing identifiable information during a complaint investigation conducted on February 27, 2025. The facility received an F842 deficiency, which addresses requirements for safeguarding confidential resident data.
Resident Record Protection Failures
The F842 tag covers a nursing facility's obligation to maintain the confidentiality and security of resident records. Under federal regulations, nursing homes must ensure that all records containing personally identifiable information — including medical histories, Social Security numbers, diagnoses, and treatment plans — are properly secured and accessible only to authorized individuals.
Garden View Care Center, located in Shenandoah, Iowa, was found to have fallen short of these federal standards. The deficiency was identified during a complaint-driven survey, meaning the inspection was triggered by a specific concern raised about the facility rather than occurring as part of a routine review cycle.
The facility had previously undergone its annual recertification survey ending on July 25, 2024, providing additional context for the regulatory timeline leading up to this citation.
Why Record Privacy Matters in Nursing Homes
Protecting resident records is not merely an administrative requirement — it is a fundamental component of resident safety. When personally identifiable health information is not properly secured, residents face real risks including identity theft, financial exploitation, and unauthorized disclosure of sensitive medical conditions.
Nursing home residents are considered a particularly vulnerable population. Many have cognitive impairments such as dementia, making them unable to monitor whether their personal information has been compromised. Federal regulations under 42 CFR §483.10(h) require facilities to keep confidential all information contained in a resident's records, regardless of the form or storage method.
Proper record security protocols include maintaining locked storage for physical records, implementing password-protected electronic health record systems, limiting access to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis, and conducting regular staff training on HIPAA compliance and facility-specific privacy policies.
Federal Standards and Expected Practices
According to federal nursing home regulations, facilities must implement written policies and procedures that govern the use and dissemination of resident information. Staff members should receive training upon hire and at regular intervals on how to handle confidential records appropriately.
Industry best practices recommend that facilities conduct periodic audits of record access logs, ensure that computer terminals displaying resident information are not visible to unauthorized individuals, and establish clear protocols for the secure disposal of documents containing protected health information.
When facilities fail to meet these standards, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can impose corrective action requirements, and repeated violations may result in civil monetary penalties or other enforcement actions.
Facility Background
Garden View Care Center is a nursing facility in Shenandoah, a community in Page County in southwestern Iowa. The facility participates in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and is subject to regular federal oversight and inspection.
Residents and family members who have concerns about privacy practices or other care issues at any nursing home can file complaints with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing or contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program for assistance.
The full inspection report, including detailed findings and any required corrective actions, is available through the CMS Care Compare database at [NursingHomeNews.org's facility page for Garden View Care Center](/facility.php?id=165389).
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Garden View Care Center from 2025-02-27 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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