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.
ST. HELENA HOSPITAL CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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 October 5, 2012. Also cited in 13 other reports.
Report ID: YDHZ11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: ST. HELENA HOSPITAL CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Issue:
Based on interview, clinical record and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep protected health information (PHI) confidential when Patient 14's medical record was sent to the Regional Center by error. This failure resulted in a breach of PHI and possible unauthorized use of the information.Findings:In an interview on 10/05/12 at 10:45 a.m., the HIM Supervisor for HIPPA stated that, on 10/31/11, medical information of Patient 14 was sent to an unauthorized agency. The Supervisor confirmed the information which was sent.Review of administrative documents revealed that the information transmitted included Patient's name, age, diagnosis, history and physical, laboratory results, treatments, and psychological evaluation and testing. The request was submitted to the medical record department to be sent to the Regional Center. The label on he request was for Patient 14, but that was not the intended record. The person submitting the request did not verify all the information prior to attaching the label to the request to ensure that the correct information was sent..
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280