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 November 1, 2013. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: 6GWS11.01, 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 25's protected, confidential health information, when the patient's wristband was put on the wrong patient. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy. Findings: During an interview on 11/01/13 at 11 a.m., the Compliance Coordinator confirmed that the patient's information had been inadvertently revealed to another patient whose name was similar. When another patient was being admitted, the admission clerk applied the wristband with this patient's name. The compliance officer confirmed the information released. A review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed that the information included Patient 25's name, medical record and account number, date of birth, gender, internal control number and date and type of service. The incident resulted from the staff person's failure to follow policy and use more than one identifier to confirm the correct identity of the patient when obtaining information and when placing the identaband on the patient.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280