EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: KIQ411, 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 3). Patient 3's confidential information was given to Patient 4 during Patient 4's facility clinic visit on January 26, 2015. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 3's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On May 18, 2015, at 10 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On January 26, 2015, Patient 4 was seen at a facility clinic and was provided documents to include a requisition for laboratory tests.b. On May 5, 2015, Patient 4 returned to the facility clinic for his regularly scheduled appointment and stated he had received Patient 3's laboratory requisition slip from the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) when he was at the facility clinic on January 26, 2015.c. Patient 4 returned the laboratory requisition slip, belonging to Patient 3, to the facility clinic on May 5, 2015.d. The LVN had not followed the facility's practice and training of using two patient identifiers prior to giving a patient documents and had not verified all documents were being given to the correct patient.Patient 4 had an opportunity to view Patient 3's PHI, which included name, date of birth, medical record number, account number, date of next appointment, gender, physician's name and laboratory tests ordered.Patient 3 was informed of the disclosure of his protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on May 15, 2015, to his last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on May 15, 2015, and a letter dated and mailed on May 15, 2015, of the unauthorized access of Patient 3'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