SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: PLWY11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on documentation and interview, hospital staff failed to implement a patient's right to privacy by accessing patient medical information without their consent.Findings:In an interview with the hospital privacy officer (Staff A) on 8/14/12, Staff A stated on 5/2/12 she was informed that an Echocardiography Technician (Tech 1) accessed a number of patient procedure studies without the need to know.According to Staff A, Tech 1 had met with her administrative supervisor on 3/20/12 to show evidence that a staff member she worked with was not competent. She provided patient echo studies (recording of the position and motion of the heart borders and valves by reflected echoes of ultrasonic waves transmitted through the chest wall) during the meeting and stated, it was an audit of two peers and herself. After administration determined there was no formal/informal department approved audit in place; the incident was referred to the privacy office on 5/2/12. An immediate investigation by the privacy officer was conducted the same day. The investigation report was reviewed on 8/14/12 and indicated Tech 1 had indeed accessed patient echo studies and possibly printed copies without the specific patient consent. The information included the patient name, study performed, account number and medical record number.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: O8RD11.01