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.
DOCTORS 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 June 30, 2014. Also cited in 64 other reports.
Report ID: LQPC11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: DOCTORS MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical and administrative document review, the facility failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential for one patient when a facility document containing Patient 1's PHI was faxed to a local business fax machine. This failure placed Patient 1's PHI at a potential for unauthorized use. Findings:On 6/30/14 at 7:53 a.m., during an interview, the Compliance Officer (CO) stated Nurse Manager (NM) 1 faxed a facility form, titled, "Physician's Orders", to the fax machine of a private business. The form contained the PHI of Patient 1. The CO stated the NM did not verify the fax number after she entered it into the fax machine. The CO stated the NM should have verified the correct fax number was input in the fax machine prior to sending the fax. Patient 1's PHI disclosed included name, birth date, medical record number, and account number. The facility policy and procedure titled, "Record Processing & Information Handling Standard" dated 9/16/13 indicated, "....III. Standard: A. Record Processing. Protected Health Information (PHI) and other Confidential/Proprietary Information, whether in electronic or paper format, shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure throughout the process of routine and non-routine receipt, creation, manipulation, storage, dissemination, transmission, and/or disposal. It is expected all Users will maintain the confidentiality of this information.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights