EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 4DHI11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure all patient protected health information (PHI) was kept protected, which resulted in the unauthorized access of the patient's confidential information (Patient 3). Patient 3's confidential information was mailed to an incorrect physician (Physician B) on July 1, 2014. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 3's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On December 19, 2014, at 11 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On July 1, 2014, the Bone Densitometry Report, completed on June 27, 2014, for Patient 3 was mailed to Physician B.b. On December 12, 2014, Patient 3 called the facility to schedule an outpatient diagnostic test and asked the Patient Intake Specialist why her physician had not received the results for her Bone Densitometry test done on June 27, 2014.c. The Patient Intake Specialist investigated Patient 3's concern and discovered Patient 3 had been registered on June 27, 2014, for the Bone Densitometry test, under the incorrect physician which lead to the test results being mailed to Physician B (the incorrect physician) on July 1, 2014, rather than Patient 3's physician (Physician A).d. Physician A was sent Patient 3's Bone Densitometry Report.Physician B and employees of Physician B received and had an opportunity to view Patient 3's PHI, which included name, date of birth, medical record number, account number, date of service, physician's name, and Bone Densitometry Results.Patient 3 was informed of the disclosure of her protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on December 18, 2014, to her last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on December 18, 2014, and a letter dated and mailed on December 18, 2014, of the unauthorized access of Patient 3's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled, "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised January 2, 2014, revealed, "... (facility name) will take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information ... Whenever possible, the Information Privacy Officer will contact the individual or organization to whom the information was inappropriately or unlawfully accessed, used or released and requested that no further access, use or disclosure of the information is made and to return or destroy the information. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the Department of Public Health and report the breach within (5) five days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (5) five days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use of disclosure and the plan or step's taken to mitigate it. ..."

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

3 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: I3WP11.01, LOGE11.01, QQSI11.01