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.
Mercy Medical Center
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 April 18, 2014. Also cited in 34 other reports.
Report ID: BP8I11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical record and administrative document review, the facility failed to ensure confidential treatment of Patient 2 and 4's protected health information (PHI) when:1. Patient 1 was given Patient 2's care plan.2. Patient 3 was given the lab order form for Patient 4.This failure resulted in unauthorized access of Patient 2 and 4's PHI and the potential for abuse of this information.Findings:1. On 4/18/14 at 10:40 a.m., during a telephone interview, the Privacy Officer (PO) stated on 4/1/14 an unidentified employee of the family care clinic gave Patient 2's Patient Care Plan to Patient 1.Patient 2's PHI breached included her name, date of service, diagnosis, medications, test results, and discharge instructions.2. On 4/18/14 at 10:40 a.m., during an interview, the PO stated that on 4/3/14 an unidentified employee of the family care clinic gave the lab order slip for Patient 4 to Patient 3. The PO stated that the clinic employees should be double checking all paper work before giving it to patients, but this was not done.Patient 4's PHI breached included his name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, medical record number, physician name, insurance company and account number, and lab test to be performed.The facility's policy and procedure titled, "PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION, SAFEGUARDING OF", implemented 12/09, indicated, "It is the policy of [Hospital] to comply with state and federal regulations regarding the safeguarding of physical and electronic form of Protected Health Information (PHI). Staff shall provide appropriate access to its information based on a need-to-know basis while preserving its confidentiality and integrity."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights