ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER - REEDLEY

Report ID: P50T11, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER - REEDLEY

Issue:

Based on staff interview, clinical record and administrative document review the facility failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when Patient 1's PHI was faxed to the wrong number.This failure placed Patient 1's PHI at risk for unauthorized use.Findings:On 9/5/14 at 8:42 a.m., Staff 1 (Risk Manager) stated that the PHI of Patient 1 was faxed to a wrong fax number by mistake. Afterward the correct facility was faxed the PHI it needed and the other facility destroyed the PHI it received.On 9/5/14 at 8:44 a.m., Patient 1's clinical record was reviewed. Patient 1's "Emergency Department Notes" dated 6/24/2014 at 1:56 p.m., contained radiology and lab results, medical record number, account number, date of birth, age, gender, marital status, spoken languages, address, telephone number, and diagnosis.On 9/5/14 the facility policy and procedure undated titled " Faxing Patient Protected Health Information" contained the following documentation: "It's the sender's responsibility to be aware of the content of the faxes they are sending, to exercise caution in faxing confidential information, and to take precautionary steps to: validate the fax number, key in correct fax number, confirm fax sent to correct number, as well as, request is appropriate and meets minimum necessary."

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights