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.
VALLEY CHILDREN'S 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 July 28, 2014. Also cited in 40 other reports.
Report ID: MO9F11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical record and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when Patient 1's discharge instructions were given to Patient 2's family.This failure placed Patient 1's PHI at a potential risk for unauthorized use.Findings:On 7/25/14 at 2:35 p.m., during an interview, the Privacy Officer (PO) stated that Patient's discharge instructions were inadvertently given to Patient 2's family. PO stated that the nurse did not check the patient identifiers (i.e., name, date of birth) when she gave the family of Patient 2 the discharge package. Patient 1's PHI which was breached included: name, date of birth, medical record number, account number and discharge diagnosis. The facility policy and procedure number PR-1016, titled "Confidentiality", dated 8/11, indicated "...[Hospital] will maintain adequate administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect the privacy of confidential information from unauthorized use or disclosure, whether intentional or unintentional."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights