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.
CLOVIS COMMUNITY 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 23, 2013. Also cited in 27 other reports.
Report ID: 5LO211, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CLOVIS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, facility and administrative document review the facility failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when:1. Patient 1's Protected Health Information was inadvertently faxed to an unauthorized entity. (CA00360843).2. Patient 2's personal health information was inappropriately accessed by an unauthorized person.(CA00363736).These failure's placed Patient 1 and 2's PHI at a potential risk for unauthorized use. Findings: CA00360843 1. On 8/23/13 at 11:40 a.m., during an interview, the Privacy Officer (PO) stated patient 1's PHI was faxed to a construction company in error. The fax was intended for the patient's physician. Patient 1's PHI breached included name, date of birth, social security number, medical record number and clinical information related to a hospitalization. The Hospitals policy and procedure titled "Facsimile Transmission of Health Information" dated 7/13, indicated "... Staff members faxing patient information shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the fax transmission is sent to the appropriate destination by verifying the following information prior to transmission: ...Fax number of requesting party. Repeat the fax number to the requestor".CA003637362. On 8/23/13 at 11:50 a.m., during an interview, the Privacy Officer stated Patient 2's PHI was inappropriately accessed by a co-worker at the facility. Patient 2's PHI breached included name, date of birth, medical record number, social security number and clinical information from the hospital stay.The Hospital's policy and procedure titled "Confidentiality/Breach Information" dated 8/10, indicated "... Protected health information is only to be accessed in relationship to an employee's or the health care provider's assigned job duties, on a business need to know basis. Accessing any information without a need to know is unauthorized...".
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights