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 August 26, 2014. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: W8LM11.01, 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 Patient 14's protected, confidential data, when the patient's informational Face Sheet had been given to another patient. This person was not involved in the patient's care and not authorized to receive the information. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy. Findings: During an interview on 8/26/14 at 10 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that the patient's Face Sheet had been given to another patient, who had requested some of their own documents. The Face Sheet was inadvertently included with the requested documents. She confirmed the information which was disclosed.The interview and a review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed that the information released included the patient's name, address, phone number date of birth, medical record and Social Security numbers and the physician's name.The incident occurred due to the staff person's failure to follow protocol to use two identifiers to confirm the correct identity of the person and to reconcile the name to the name on all the documents when transferring them to a patient.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280