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.
CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL 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 January 25, 2013. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: 8NOZ11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of a patient's (Patient 1) protected health information, when some of Patient 1's medical information was handed to Patient 2. This failure allowed the unlawful or unauthorized access of protected health information.Findings:The California Department of Public Health was notified on 1/23/13 that a, "Breach of Protected Health Information (PHI)", occurred on 11/6/12.During an interview on 1/25/13 at 11:15 a.m., Administrative Staff A stated that Patient Relations received a phone call, on 1/17/13, from Patient 2 that he had been handed a copy of Patient 1's After Visit Summary (AVS), on 11/6/12, which included Patient 1's name, age, telephone number, physician's name, medical record number, diagnoses, reason for visit, medication list, and future appointments.Administrative Staff A also stated that Patient 2 had been sick, which explained his 2 month delay in reporting the breach to the facility.Administrative Staff A further stated that it was an error in not following policy and procedure, on the part of Staff B, in that a second identifier was not checked before handing out the wrong AVS to Patient 2.A review of the facility Policy and Procedure for, "Confidentiality of Patient/Client Information", (6/11), reveals the following: "PURPOSE To establish a department-wide policy that expresses the facilities commitment towards protecting a patient's right confidentiality...POLICY While individuals are patients/clients of the facilities, it is each employee's obligation to contribute to the provision of care in an environment that protects patient's/client's right to privacy. To accomplish this, all observations, and/or verbal, written, pictorial or photographic communications regarding patients/clients, in the absence of appropriate authority to access or release that information, should be safeguarded as 'CONFIDENTIAL'...RESPONSIBLE A. Employees 1. Each employee is responsible for keeping patient/client information confidential."A review of the facility Policy and Procedure for, "PATIENT IDENTIFICATION PROCESS", (9/11), reveals the following: "III. POLICY Ambulatory care staff at all facilities will protect and accurately identify each patient that we serve. Staff must reliably identify the individuals as the person for whom the service or treatment is intended, must match the service or treatment to that individual, and must secure their protected health information and medical record accuracy at all encounters."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280