Scripps Mercy Hospital

Report ID: V58B11.02, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to ensure that the one patient's (Patient 1) right to privacy and confidentiality of their protected health information (PHI), was observed by a licensed nurse.Findings:An onsite visit of the hospital was conducted on 10/17/12, in response to an entity reported incident involving an inadvertent disclosure of protected health information belonging to Patient 1.On 10/17/12 at 2:30 P.M., an interview was conducted with a hospital staff (Staff 1) regarding the incident. Staff 1 confirmed that a copy of Patient 1's discharge record was inadvertently given by a nurse to the wrong patient (Patient 2) at the time of discharge. This was later recognized when Patient 2 notified the hospital that she had received the discharge paperwork belonging to another patient (Patient 1). The document was retrieved from Patient 2 and was given to Patient 1, who was still at the Emergency Department when the incident occurred. Patient 1's discharge information that was inadvertently disclosed to Patient 2, contained the following medical record information: Patient 1's name, medical record number, date of birth, age, account number, physician's name, date of admission, list of drugs and follow-up discharge instructions.The hospital's nursing staff's failure to check the record to validate the patient's name prior to the release of the document, resulted in the inadvertent and unauthorized release of Patient 1's PHI.

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

The report containing this deficiency also includes information about 1 other violation. Note that these may be related to the same event: V58B11.01