EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 6NLS11, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure all patient protected health information (PHI) was kept protected, which resulted in the unauthorized access of the patient's confidential information (Patient 5). Patient 5's confidential information was given to Patient 6 during Patient 6's facility clinic visit on May 4, 2015. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 5's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On May 27, 2015, at 8:08 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On May 4, 2015, Patient 6 was seen at a facility clinic and left the facility clinic with a compact disc (CD).b. On May 13, 2015, Patient 6 returned to the facility clinic and stated he had received a CD belonging to Patient 5 at his last clinic appointment.c. The facility clinic was unsure who gave the CD to Patient 6 or how he obtained possession of the CD on May 4,2015.d. Patient 6 returned the CD, belonging to Patient 5, to the facility clinic on May 13, 2015.e. The CD contained CT (computerized tomography) images, of Patient 5's abdomen and pelvis with interpretation, which were done at Facility B. Patient 6 had an opportunity to view Patient 5's PHI, which included name, date of birth, account number from Facility B, CT images and interpretation of the CT images.Patient 5 was informed of the disclosure of his protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on May 26, 2015, to his last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on May 26, 2015, and a letter dated and mailed on May 26, 2015, of the unauthorized access of Patient 5's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised April 2, 2015, revealed, "... (facility name) will take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information ... Whenever possible, The Information Privacy Officer will contact the individual or organization to whom the information was inappropriately or unlawfully accessed, used or released and request that no further access, use or disclosure of the information is made and to return or destroy the information. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the Department of Public Health and report the breach within (15) fifteen business days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (15) fifteen business days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use or disclosure and the plan or step's taken to mitigate it. ..."

Outcome:

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