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.
SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL 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 February 4, 2015. Also cited in 35 other reports.
Report ID: 8JT411.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the confidential treatment of protected health information for Patient B, when a registered nurse( RN 1) gave Patient B's written prescription to Patient A. This resulted in the Patient B's medical information being released without authorization to Patient A.Findings:On February 4, 2015 at 11:10 AM, a phone interview was conducted with the Director of Operations Nursing Administration(DON) regarding an entity reported incident of a breach of personal health information for Patient B, which was identified on January 20,2015. The DON stated "RN1 was printing the discharge instructions and didn't verify the prescriptions before giving them to Patient A." The breach was discovered at an outside pharmacy when Patient A went to fill the prescription. The Pharmacist discovered Patient B's precription had been stapled to Patient A's prescription. RN1 had failed to verify the prescriptions.A review of Patient B's prescription given to Patient A included: Patient B's name, date of birth,sex, medication allergies, address, phone number, and the medication being prescribed.During a phone interview with RN1 on February 4, 2015 at 10:00 AM, she stated "I printed the discharge instructions for Patient A and review the instructions with Patient A." When asked how Patient A discovered he had someone else prescription. RN1 said Patient A went to fill the prescription and the outside Pharmacist noticed the written prescription didn't belong to Patient A. The Pharmacist instructed Patient A to return the prescription intended for Patient B to the facility. Patient A returned the prescription to Registered Nurse (RN 2) who was on duty at the time.During further interview with RN1, when asked the protocol to ensure instructions are being given to the correct patient, RN1 stated," I ask their name and doctor's name and ask them to verbalize an understanding of discharge instructions. It was my mistake in not checking the paper. I was upset why I made that mistake."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights