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.
EISENHOWER 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 February 21, 2013. Also cited in 279 other reports.
Report ID: ESHR11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent the unauthorized access and/or disclosure of Patient A's medical information. This had the potential to result in misuse of private information.Findings:On February 21, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., a phone investigation was conducted for an entity reported incident.In a concurrent interview with the Compliance Specialist (CS), the CS stated Patient B went to the facility to receive laboratory services on November 30, 2012.. The laboratory department's registrar registered/entered a patient (Patient A) that had the same name as Patient B. After Patient B received the laboratory services, Patient B received a document titled, "Conditions of Admission," which contained the same name, but had a different date of birth, account number, and medical record number. The CS stated the Registrar was interviewed and stated she did not use two-patient identifier to ensure she had the right patient, during the registration process. Subsequently, this resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient A's protected health information to Patient B.The record titled, "Conditions of Admission (dated November 30, 2012)," provided to Patient B, was reviewed. The record contained Patient A's name, date of birth, hospital account number, and medical record number. The facility policy titled, "Department: Admitting and Registration...Patient Identity Verification (date May 1, 2009)," was reviewed. The policy indicated, "All admission/Registration staff will take steps to obtain and verify the identity of the person they are registering for service." The policy further indicated, "...Existing Patient/Account - In-Person Registration...Using the patient identifier information presented by the patient, the registrar will verify the patient's information including but not limited to: the patient's full name, date of birth, social security number, address and insurance information..."The facility policy titled, "HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) - use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information (dated November 18, 2011)," was reviewed and indicated, "Protected Health Information (PHI) - Individually identifiable health information transmitted or maintained in any form or medium, including oral, written and electronic...Information is considered PHI where there is a reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify an individual."The facility policy titled, "Information Privacy (dated December 19, 2011)," was reviewed and indicated, "...Unauthorized of Unlawful Disclosure: is the release, transfer, provision of access to, or providing in any other manner of PHI outside of the organization, to parties without a treatment, payment or hospital administrative purpose..."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280