ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER - REEDLEY

Report ID: 86OM11, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER - REEDLEY

Issue:

Based on staff interview, facility and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when Patient 1's discharge medication list was mistakenly given to Patient 2. This failure placed Patient 1's PHI at a potential risk for unauthorized use.Findings:On 5/22/12 at 4:20 p.m., during an interview, Staff 1 (Privacy Officer) stated on 4/29/12, during the discharge process, Staff 2 (Registered Nurse) mistakenly gave Patient 1's discharge medication list to Patient 2. Staff 1 stated Staff 2 failed to checked the patients identification band to ensure the right patient was receiving the right documents.On 5/22/12 at 4:27 p.m., during an interview, Staff 1 stated the discharge medication list contained Patient 1's name, date of birth, address, medical record number, allergies and a list of medication prescribed.The facility policy and procedure number 1000.08.09 titled Confidentiality of Protected Health Information contained the following documentation: "Adventist Health is committed to protecting the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI)...It is the policy to maintain confidentiality for patients and employees at all times and under all circumstances. This commitment must be supported by working to see: That access to the medical record is restricted based on the minimum amount of protected health information (PHI) necessary to accomplish the intended purpose of any use, disclosure or request; That access to the medical record can be managed through concurrent controls and retrospective auditing in order to safeguard the information that it contains; That PHI in all other forms, including oral, is maintained in confidence. "

Outcome:

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