Wausau Manor: Privacy Violated During Wound Care - WI
The incident occurred on August 21st during an 11:22 AM wound care session at Wausau Manor Health Services. The resident, who had been admitted earlier in the month and was alert and oriented, stood using a walker while receiving treatment for wounds on his left buttock, sacral area, and bilateral buttock redness.
The resident unbuttoned his pants and underwear, lowering both to mid-thigh level for the wound care. Throughout the entire procedure, the window blinds remained open. The registered nurse never asked if the resident wanted privacy before beginning treatment.
Federal inspectors observed the violation firsthand. Anyone walking by the window could see the resident receiving intimate medical care to his buttocks and sacral area.
When confronted immediately after the incident, the registered nurse admitted her mistake. During an interview at 11:35 AM, she confirmed she should have closed the blinds before performing wound care to the resident's sacral area.
The resident's response was direct and clear. When asked about the open blinds during his interview at 11:37 AM, he stated: "Sure, it would bother me if someone saw me. I would prefer them [staff] to close the blinds."
The resident had been receiving daily wound care since August 19th under physician orders. The treatment protocol required cleansing with normal saline, patting dry, and applying Periguard Ointment every day and evening shift. The orders covered wounds on his left buttock, sacral redness, and bilateral buttock redness.
Medical records showed the resident was fully capable of understanding his situation. His August 14th admission evaluation indicated he was alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation. He could articulate his preferences for privacy during medical treatment.
The facility's own leadership acknowledged the violation. During an interview at 2:00 PM on the day of inspection, the Interim Director of Nursing stated: "I expect the nurses to provide dignity and respect when performing wound care to a resident by closing the blinds prior to wound care."
This expectation apparently wasn't communicated effectively to nursing staff. The registered nurse's failure to close the blinds violated basic privacy protections during intimate medical care.
The wound care itself required the resident to expose private areas of his body. Standing with his walker, pants and underwear lowered to mid-thigh, he was vulnerable and exposed during the medical procedure. The open window blinds compounded this vulnerability.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. This extends beyond paperwork to actual care delivery. Private medical treatment should remain private.
The inspection found this privacy failure had the potential for the resident to experience embarrassment or feeling exposed during treatment. The resident's own words confirmed this concern when he expressed his preference for closed blinds.
The violation occurred during a complaint inspection, suggesting someone had raised concerns about care quality at the facility. Inspectors reviewed wound care practices for three residents out of a total sample of six residents. Only this one resident experienced the privacy violation.
The registered nurse's acknowledgment that she should have closed the blinds indicates staff understood the proper protocol. The failure appeared to be one of execution rather than training or policy gaps.
Window blinds represent a basic privacy protection in healthcare settings. Closing them takes seconds and costs nothing. The failure to perform this simple step exposed a vulnerable resident during intimate medical care.
The resident's clear statement about his preferences highlighted the personal impact of the violation. He understood what happened and could articulate how it affected him. His dignity was compromised during a moment when he needed medical care for painful wounds.
The interim director's statement about expecting dignity and respect during wound care suggested the facility had appropriate policies. The gap between expectation and execution created the violation that exposed this resident's private medical treatment to potential public view.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Wausau Manor Health Services from 2025-08-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
WAUSAU MANOR HEALTH SERVICES in WAUSAU, WI was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 21, 2025.
The incident occurred on August 21st during an 11:22 AM wound care session at Wausau Manor Health Services.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.