SUTTER COAST HOSPITAL

Report ID: CNNJ11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: SUTTER COAST HOSPITAL

Issue:

Based on interview, clinical record and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep personal health information confidential when Patient 10's personal information was inadvertently given to the incorrect patient, who was not authorized to have this information. This failure resulted in a breach of confidentiality and possible unauthorized use of the information.Findings:In an interview, on 12/20/12 at 10:30 a.m., the Privacy Officer stated that on 7/04/12, personal and medical information for Patient 10 was inadvertently given to another patient, not involved in this patient's care. He stated that he first became aware of the breach of confidentiality on 7/09/12 and informed the Department on 7/09/12. The error occurred when hospital laboratory staff failed to confirm identity of the patient receiving laboratory results. There were two patients with the same name. This occurred both at the hospital laboratory and subsequently at the clinic, at another site. He confirmed the information which was shared. Review of administrative documents revealed that the information transmitted included the name, date of birth, laboratory test results and medical information. The incident occurred when employees failed to follow the correct method to ensure information was given to the right patient (more than one patient with the same name), when they failed to check a second verification of identity such as the birth date of the patient.

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

15 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 02WQ11.01, 0MP211.01, 6JR911.01, 6Q7T11.01, 9ITP11.01, BS4A11.01, DIP511.01, G7V411.01, HX4711.01, IDNS11.01, ITB911.01, NITG11.01, RNTD11.01, UW5511.01, Z2G411.01