EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 57ZH11.01, 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 a patient's confidential information (Patient A). Patient A's confidential information was sent via facsimile to a private home on April 16, 2012. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient A's PHI.Findings:On May 25, 2012, at 10 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Director of Compliance. The Director stated the recipient of a document with Patient A's PHI, notified the facility on May 8, 2012, about a misdirected fax. The recipient had received a document with Patient A's name, date of birth, medical record number and account number. The Director stated the facility notified Patient A on May 15, 2012. On May 25, 2012, the document sent to the wrong fax number was reviewed. The form contained Patient A's name, medical record number and facility account number, as well as the physician's name, date of service and personal medical information. The facility policy and procedure titled "Information Privacy," revised on December 19, 2011, was reviewed on May 25, 2012. The policy indicated the facility would take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information. The policy indicated, "Unauthorized of Unlawful Disclosure: is the release, transfer, provision of access to, or providing in any other manner of PHI outside of the organization, to parties without a treatment, payment or hospital administrative purpose."

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

3 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: G2ZR11.01, IWM511.01, T4GV11.01