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.
SUTTER COAST HOSPITAL
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 28, 2014. Also cited in 58 other reports.
Report ID: XI1S11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: SUTTER COAST HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of Patients 5-36's confidential health information, when a list of patients who were scheduled for cardiac procedures was dropped outside of the facility and was picked up by another patient. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized access to protected health information and a violation of the patients' right to privacy.Findings:During an interview on 8/28/14 at 10 a.m., the Privacy Officer stated that the incident occurred when the employee was transporting equipment and information from one building to to another and the employee had not secured the list or note that it had dropped. The Privacy Officer confirmed the information which was transmitted. Interview and review of documents, provided by the facility, revealed the information which was revealed included the patient's name, date of birth, telephone number, medical record number and the information that the paient was being seen in the clinic. This incident occurred due to the failure of the employee to secure all documents prior to transferring from one location to another.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280