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.
MARIN GENERAL 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 March 14, 2012. Also cited in 63 other reports.
Report ID: 86L011, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on staff interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure that patients' confidential health information was protected from unauthorized access by individuals who were not involved in the patients' care resulting in violation of patient's privacy.Findings: Entity Report Incident: CA002983321. The Department was notified on 2/2/12 that Patient's confidential health information had been sent to Doctor M in error.During an interview and concurrent record review, on 3/14/12 at 2:10 p.m., Administrative Staff A stated that Doctor L had requested that a copy of a dictated operative report be sent to Doctor M. The operative report indicated that the dictation was made by Doctor L and that Doctor M was list as one of the individuals to be sent a copy of the report.A fax document dated 1/31/12, form Doctor M's clinic indicated that Patient 1 had never been a patient at the clinic. The faxed document was the operative report that included the patient's name, age, medical record number, history of the present illness including all medication taken by the patient, and a detailed narrative of the procedure.Entity Reported Incident: CA002983392. The Department was notified on 2/2/12, that Patient 2's discharge summary was sent to a doctor who was not involved in the patient's care.During an interview and concurrent document review on 3/14/12 at 1:40 p.m., Administrative Staff A stated that on 2/1/12, the hospital received a fax from Doctor P indicating that she had received a discharge summary.The fax dated 2/1/12 from Doctor P indicated "Patient never been seen here in General Medicine." The discharge summary was attached was dictated by Doctor N. There were list of six locations where Doctor N had requested a copy sent. Doctor P's name was included on the list. The discharge summary contained Patient 2's name, medical record number, admission and discharge dates, complete history and physical, and the patient's hospital course.During an interview on 3/14/12 at 1:40 p.m., Administrative Staff A stated that there were two doctors on the list of physicians with the same name but different spellings. Staff who typed the dictated summary selected the wrong doctor without checking to be certain which was the intended recipient.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280