EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: PL9Q11, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure Patient A's confidential information was kept protected, which resulted in the unauthorized access/disclosure of the patient's confidential information. Patient A's confidential information was scanned into the wrong record and viewed by an unauthorized person on November 28, 2011.Findings:On May 25, 2012, at 10:45 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Director of Compliance. The Director stated on November 28, 2011, Patient B was viewing her medical record online and found a pathology report belonging to Patient A in her record. The Director stated the pathology report had been scanned into Patient B's record by mistake. The Director stated Patient B reported the inclusion of the document in her record on November 29, 2011. Patient A's pathology report was reviewed on May 25, 2012. The report included the patient's name, medical record number, gender, date of birth, financial number, and diagnosis. The facility policy and procedure titled, "Information Privacy," revised on December 19, 2011, was reviewed on May 25, 2012. The policy indicated the facility would take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information. The policy indicated, "Unauthorized of Unlawful Disclosure: is the release, transfer, provision of access to, or providing in any other manner of PHI outside of the organization, to parties without a treatment, payment or hospital administrative purpose."

Outcome:

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