EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: VEWE11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the PHI (protected health information) of Patient A remained confidential. This failure resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient A's Conditions of Admission packet to Patient B, which reflected Patient A's name, date of birth, medical record and account numbers.Findings:An interview was conducted with the facility's Compliance Specialist (CS) on September 18, 2013, at 11:15 a.m. The CS stated Patient B arrived at the admitting department and signed the admission paperwork that had been prepared for Patient A.A review of Patient A's admission paperwork which was given to Patient B reflected Patient A's name, date of birth, medical record and account numbers.A review of the facility policy, "HIPPA -Use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (HIPPA -health information portability and accountability act), last Reviewed/Revised 11/18/2011," was conducted. The policy indicated, "It is the policy of (the facility) that the confidentiality of Protected Health information contained in records and collected pursuant to treatment will be protected to the fullest extent possible. To maintain this confidentiality (facility) staff may not disseminate PHI unless it is pursuant to a valid request, a valid authorization or a legally recognized exception to this requirement."

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

2 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: E33811.01, RI2E11.01