CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 5HDU11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of Patient 32's protected, confidential health information, when the patient's identification labels were given to another patient and the incorrect patient was banded with this patient's identification band. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy. The application of an incorrect identification band, on a patient, has the potential to result in incorrect treatment being provided.Findings: During an interview on 11/01/13 at 11 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that the patient's information had been given to another patient. She stated that the patients' last names were similar and the first names were the same. The Compliance Officer confirmed the information which was released. A review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed the information which was shared included Patient 32's name, medical record and account numbers, date of birth and date and type of service to be provided. The staff person releasing the information did not comply with the facility's policy to use two identifiers to verify the identity of the patient and failed to reconcile the name of the patient before placing the identaband and giving the patient the labels.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

14 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 12LJ11.01, 1FG111.01, 1ZEU11.01, 6GWS11.01, 763C11.01, 7LFL11.01, DZRR11.01, FN0G11.01, IGX111.01, JCVI11.01, NKWI11.01, OFRL11.01, SJJ811.01, T14T11.01