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.
CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
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 August 14, 2013. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: 9JFK11.01, 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 a patient's (Patient 2) medical information when Patient 2's After Visit Summary (AVS) was faxed to the wrong facility. This failure allowed the unlawful or unauthorized access to some of Patient 2's medical information. FindingsThe California Department of Public Health was notified on 8/2/13 that a, "Breach of Protected Health Information (PHI)", occurred on 7/31/13.During an interview on 8/14/13 at 2:15 p.m., Administrative Staff A stated that, on 8/1/13, she was notified by the Safety and Events Reporting System (SERS) that Licensed Staff B gave Patient 2's After Visit Summary (AVS) to Patient 1 after a laboratory visit on 7/31/13. Patient 2's PHI included her name, medical record number, age, gender, reason for visit, provider name, department seen in, reason for visit, diagnoses, vital signs, weight, medication list, future appointments, and allergies. Administrative Staff A also stated that it it was an error, in not following policy and procedure, when Licensed Staff B gave Patient 2's PHI to Patient 1 without double checking the identity of Patient 1. Subsequently Patient 1 noticed the error and returned the AVS, for Patient 2 to Licensed Staff B who then reported the breach in the SERS.A review of the facility Policy and Procedure for, "PATIENT IDENTIFICATION PROCESS", (9/11), reveals the following: "III POLICY Ambulatory Care staff at all facility health centers will will protect and accurately identify each patient that we serve. Staff must reliably identify the individual as the person for whom the service or treatment is intended, must match the service or treatment to that individual, and must secure their protected health information and medical record accuracy at all encounters...V PROCEDURE B. For patients presenting for services 18 years and over, Registration Clerk will: 1. Request to see a government issued photographic proof of identity...2. Compare the identification presented with the patient information in the registration system and the appointment documentation...F. Clinical and ancillary services staff will be responsible for verifying the patients' identity prior to rendering care, performing diagnostic studies, giving medications and treatments".A review of the facility Policy and Procedure for, "RELEASE OF INFORMATION", (9/10), reveals the following: "IV. PROCEDURE A. Sending PHI by Fax...3. A Fax Cover Sheet must be fully completed and used for every fax transmission...5. Carefully enter the fax number. After the fax number has been entered, check it against the fax number you have for the recipient before pressing send".
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280