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.
EL CENTRO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for violations of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on March 28, 2013. Also cited in 38 other reports.
Report ID: 8G1X11.02, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EL CENTRO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to maintain the confidentiality of medical record information of one sampled patient (Patient 1). The staff's failure to validate the correct patient information in the record resulted in the unauthorized release of Patient 1's protected health information. This was also in violation of the patient's right to the confidentiality of Patient 1's health record information. Findings:On 3/28/13, an onsite visit of the hospital was conducted in response to a hospital report that an Emergency Department (ED) staff had mistakenly given Patient 1's discharge instructions to another patient (Patient 1).On 3/28/13 at 8:30 A.M., an interview was conducted with the privacy compliance officer regarding the above report. She indicated that Patient 1 was seen and treated in the Emergency Department on 3/01/13. Prior to Patient 1's discharge, the ED nurse printed the discharge instructions belonging to Patient 1, She then retrieved the records from the printer, but mistakenly gave the records to another patient (Patient 2). It was reported that the nurse failed to check and validate the patient's name and the right patient information. Upon discovery by the ED staff , Patient 2 was then notified, and agreed to return the record on 3/01/13. The 2-page medical records that were inadvertently released to Patient 2 contained the following protected health information belonging to Patient 1: name, diagnoses, physician's name, drug prescription and discharge instructions.The ED staff's failure to read and validate the patient's name to ensure the medical records were released to the right patient, resulted in the unauthorized release of Patient 1's medical record information. This was also in violation of Patient 1's right to confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to health care at the facility.Patient 1 was notified by the hospital about the unauthorized release of her medical record information on 3/08/13.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights