SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: BPM411.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of patients' medical information when a hospital contracted laundry worker (HCLW) found Patient 1's operative report among the soiled linens. Findings:The Department received an entity reported incident from the hospital on 9/25/13 which indicated on 9/19/13, a patient's chart (Patient 1) was brought into one of the hospital's laboratory satellites by another patient (HCLW) who works for the laundry company the hospital used. Report further indicated Patient 1's medical record was among the linens sent by the hospital for laundry.During an interview with the hospital's Ethics and Compliance Staff (ECS) on 4/29/14 at 12:15 p.m., she stated on 9/19/13, HCLW went to an outpatient laboratory for a blood test. HCLW gave Patient 1's operative medical record to Staff A. As per ECS, HCLW stated she found the record among the soiled linen brought to their facility from the hospital.ECS stated the hospital was not able to identify who was HCLW and therefore was not interviewed. ECS further stated the hospital was not able to identifiy who placed Patient 1's operative report with the soiled linens.Staff A was interviewed on 5/2/14 at 1:20 p.m. and stated HCLW came in on 9/19/13 and provided her with Patient 1's medical record. Staff A stated HCLW found Patient 1's medical record among the soiled linens brought to her facility from the hospital. Review of the PHI disclosed included Patient 1's name, medical record number, date of service, surgical consent, and surgical notes.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 5V6L11.01