EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: EEXU11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the PHI (protected health information) of Patient A remained confidential. This failure resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient A's name, medical record and account numbers, date of birth, and the results of two laboratory studies to a business in the community.Findings:An interview was conducted with the facility's Compliance Specialist (CS) on October 11, 2013, at 1:45 p.m. The CS stated Patient A went to the facility's laboratory to have blood work drawn. A staff member at the laboratory instead of faxing the results to Patient A's physician, faxed the results to a business in the community.A review of Patient A's PHI which was disclosed to the unauthorized entity reflected Patient A's name, medical record and account numbers, date of birth and the results of two laboratory studies.A review of the facility policy, "HIPPA-Use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (HIPPA-health information portability and accountability act), last Reviewed/Revised 11/18/2011," was conducted. 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. To maintain this confidentiality (facility) staff may not disseminate PHI unless it is pursuant to a valid request, a valid authorization or a legally recognized exception to this requirement."

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: GVHT11.01