Bergen New Bridge Medical Center: Privacy Breach - NJ
Federal inspectors found that certified nursing assistants failed to document personal hygiene care for the resident on 12 different days in November across the night shift alone. The gaps included no records of help with combing hair, shaving, applying makeup, or washing and drying face and hands.
The resident, identified only as Resident #2, has spinal cord disease and quadriplegia, according to medication records. Care plans show the person depends on staff assistance for all activities of daily living. Despite this total dependence, nursing assistants left blank sections throughout November where they should have recorded whether they provided care.
Documentation gaps appeared across all three shifts. Day shift records were blank for hygiene assistance on 13 different dates. Afternoon shift showed no documentation on 12 dates. Night shift records were missing for 12 dates.
Bathing documentation showed similar patterns. Night shift assistants left bathing records blank on 13 different days in November. Day shift records were missing for four days. Afternoon shift documentation was absent for four days.
The facility's own policy requires staff to "Record ADL/Functional Abilities assistance in the Point of Care in the EMR," according to documents dated January 2025.
A nursing assistant told inspectors on November 12 that CNAs were responsible for providing residents with activities of daily living care. The assistant confirmed that all tasks were required to be documented in the Point of Care system.
The nurse manager stated during the same day that CNAs were expected to document in the Point of Care system and that assigned nurses should review and confirm the documentation.
The Assistant Director of Nursing told inspectors that all nursing staff was responsible for the resident's care. The ADON confirmed that CNAs document all care in the Point of Care system and stated there should not be any blanks in the documentation.
Yet the resident's admission record also contained gaps. The section designated for medical diagnoses was left completely blank, even though the same resident's medication records clearly listed diagnoses including spinal cord disease and quadriplegia.
Additional diagnoses documented elsewhere in the resident's file included diabetes, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and polyneuropathy. A comprehensive assessment revealed the resident scored 15 out of 15 on cognitive testing, indicating intact mental function despite complete physical dependence.
The care plan, originally dated September 2, documented that the resident had "self care deficit secondary to quadriplegic status" and was "dependent for assistance in all ADL areas."
Without documentation, there's no way to verify whether the resident actually received the hygiene and bathing assistance required by their condition. The blank records span nearly the entire month of November, creating a pattern of missing information about basic care for someone who cannot perform these tasks independently.
The inspection occurred November 18 following a complaint. Inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents.
The documentation failures raise questions about oversight at the facility. Despite multiple layers of staff responsibility, from nursing assistants to the Assistant Director of Nursing, the gaps persisted for weeks without correction.
For a quadriplegic resident who depends entirely on staff for personal hygiene and bathing, the absence of documentation creates uncertainty about whether essential care occurred at all. The facility's own policies required complete documentation, yet staff left critical sections blank day after day throughout November.
The resident's intact cognitive abilities mean they would be fully aware of any lapses in hygiene care, making the documentation gaps particularly concerning for someone who cannot advocate for themselves physically.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Bergen New Bridge Medical Center from 2025-11-18 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 21, 2026 · Our methodology
BERGEN NEW BRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER in PARAMUS, NJ was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 18, 2025.
The gaps included no records of help with combing hair, shaving, applying makeup, or washing and drying face and hands.
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.