VANCOUVER, WA — Bridge Crest Post Acute received 15 deficiencies during a federal health inspection completed on December 12, 2025, including a citation for failing to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of residents' personal and medical records — a fundamental protection under federal nursing home regulations.
Confidential Records Not Properly Protected
Federal inspectors determined that Bridge Crest Post Acute failed to meet requirements under regulatory tag F0583, which mandates that nursing facilities keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. The citation falls under the broader category of Resident Rights Deficiencies, a classification that addresses the basic protections guaranteed to every individual living in a federally certified nursing facility.
The deficiency was assigned a Scope/Severity Level D, meaning it was isolated in nature and no actual harm to residents was documented at the time of inspection. However, inspectors noted there was potential for more than minimal harm — an important distinction that signals the violation, if left unaddressed, could escalate into a situation with real consequences for residents.
Medical record privacy is not merely an administrative formality. Resident records contain highly sensitive information including diagnoses, medication regimens, mental health histories, substance use records, and personal identifying details. When these records are not properly safeguarded, residents face risks ranging from identity theft to emotional distress from unauthorized disclosure of their health conditions.
Why Medical Record Privacy Matters in Nursing Homes
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and federal nursing home regulations outlined in 42 CFR § 483.10, facilities are required to implement specific safeguards to protect resident information. These safeguards include restricting access to records to authorized personnel only, securing physical files in locked storage, protecting electronic records with appropriate access controls, and ensuring that conversations about resident care occur in private settings.
When a facility fails to meet these standards, the consequences can be significant. Unauthorized access to medical records can lead to discrimination, embarrassment, and violations of personal autonomy — particularly concerning for elderly and vulnerable populations who may already feel a diminished sense of control over their daily lives.
Proper record handling requires staff training on confidentiality protocols, clear policies about who may access records and under what circumstances, and regular audits to ensure compliance. The fact that this deficiency was cited suggests a breakdown in one or more of these protective layers at Bridge Crest Post Acute.
15 Total Deficiencies Raise Broader Questions
The privacy citation was one of 15 deficiencies identified during the inspection, a number that suggests systemic issues extending well beyond a single recordkeeping lapse. While the full scope of all 15 citations encompasses multiple areas of regulatory compliance, the volume alone places Bridge Crest Post Acute among facilities facing meaningful scrutiny from federal oversight bodies.
For context, the national average for deficiencies per nursing home inspection is approximately 7 to 8 citations. A facility receiving nearly double the national average raises questions about the overall quality of care, staffing adequacy, and administrative oversight at the facility.
No Correction Plan Submitted
Perhaps most notably, Bridge Crest Post Acute has not submitted a plan of correction for the privacy deficiency. Federal regulations require that cited facilities develop and submit a detailed corrective action plan outlining specific steps they will take to remedy each deficiency and prevent recurrence.
The absence of a correction plan means there is currently no documented commitment from the facility to address the identified privacy failures. Until a plan is submitted and accepted by regulators, residents and their families have no assurance that the conditions leading to the citation have been or will be remedied.
Families with loved ones at Bridge Crest Post Acute may wish to inquire directly with facility administration about what steps are being taken to protect resident information and to address the full range of deficiencies identified during the December inspection.
The complete inspection report, including details on all 15 deficiencies, is available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare website, where families can review the full regulatory history of any federally certified nursing facility.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Bridge Crest Post Acute from 2025-12-12 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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