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.
EISENHOWER 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 5, 2014. Also cited in 279 other reports.
Report ID: VJQC11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent the unauthorized access and/or disclosure of Patient A's private health information (PHI), when a document containing Patient A's name, date of birth and medical record number, was inadvertently indexed into Patient B's record and mailed to Patient B with other requested documents. This had the potential to result in the misuse of Patient A's private health information.Findings:On August 5, 2014, at 2 p.m., the facility Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO) was interviewed. The DIPO stated, a document that contained Patient A's PHI was inadvertently filed with another patient's information. The DIPO stated Patient A's information was mailed to an unintended recipient, who brought the document back to the facility on July 28, 2014. The DIPO stated Patient A's name, date of birth and medical record number were on the document returned to the facility by Patient B. On August 5, 2014, a copy of the letter sent to Patient A was reviewed. The letter indicated, "...to notify you that a sleep study report containing your name, date of birth, and medical record number was inadvertently mailed to the incorrect address." A copy of the document mailed to Patient B was reviewed. The document contained Patient A's name, the date of the sleep study, the patient's date of birth and the patient's identification number, and clinical information. A review was conducted on August 5, 2014, of the facility policy titled, "HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information," dated, December 19, 2011. The policy indicated, "It is the policy of (the facility) that the confidentiality of Protected Health information contained in records and collected pursuant to treatment will be protected to the fullest extent possible."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280