Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for a violation of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on June 27, 2014. Also cited in 40 other reports.
Report ID: GHXE11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical record review, and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when Patient 1's Pharmacy Prescription slip was mistakenly given to Patient 2. This failure resulted in unauthorized access to the Patient's PHI and the potential for abuse of that information.Findings:Refer to: CA00403236.On 6//30/14 at 10:20 a.m., during an interview, the Accreditation Coordinator/Privacy Officer stated on 6/17/14 the Day Surgery Department was notified by an outside Pharmacy that a patient had received a prescription belonging to another patient. The Pharmacy verified that the prescription was destroyed. The Privacy Officer stated the error occurred during discharge from Day Surgery Post-Op when the Licensed Nurse did not check each discharge page for the appropriate identifiers (patient name and date of birth).Patient 1's breached PHI included name, date of birth, gender, address, telephone number, sex and medical record number.The hospital's policy and procedure number PR-1033, titled, "PHI, Use and Disclosure," dated 12/10, contained the following documentation: "...[Hospital's name] and its employees are committed to protect the privacy of patients' health information and to comply with applicable federal and state laws that protect the privacy and security of patients' health information." The hospital's policy and procedure number PR-1016, titled "Confidentiality," dated 8/11, contained the following documentation: "...[Hospital's name] will maintain adequate administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect the privacy of confidential information from unauthorized use or disclosure, whether intentional or unintentional..."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights