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.
SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL HOSPITAL
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 20, 2014. Also cited in 35 other reports.
Report ID: 3L6M11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure that the emergency department (ED)registered nurse (RN) verified the name on the prescription given to Patient A upon discharge. This failure resulted a breach of confidentiality, when Patient A received a prescription that contained Patient B's confidential information.Findings:A phone interview was conducted with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) on February 20, 2014 at 4:00 PM, to investigate a self-report of a possible breach of protected health information (PHI). The CNO explained that on January 26, 2014, a registered nurse (RN) in the ED discharged two patients (Patient A and Patient B). The RN inadvertently gave the handwritten prescription intended for Patient B, to Patient A. The error was not discovered until the next day, when Patient A returned to the ER and was given the correct prescription."During a review of the facility policy and procedure titled, "Confidentiality, Protecting Confidential Information," dated September 2011, the policy defined confidential information, as:"...all patient data or protected health information (PHI), social security numbers, credit card data...and other sensitive...personal information."A review of the prescription that was given to Patient A inadvertently, was conducted on February 24, 2014 at 3:30 PM. The prescription contained: Patient B's name, date of birth, address, medication and allergies. This was a breach of Patient B's PHI.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights