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.
QUEEN OF THE VALLEY 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 January 27, 2015. Also cited in 17 other reports.
Report ID: OEYF11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: QUEEN OF THE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of Patient 15's protected, confidential information, when an Explanation of Benefits was sent, by a vendor, to an incorrect facility, which was not involved in the patient's care and not authorized to receive the information. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy. Findings: During an interview on 2/03/15 at 1:30 p.m., the Privacy Officer confirmed that the patient's information had been sent to a facility outside the system. The vendor (contract business associate) picked up the documents from the lock box and co-mingled them with other documents. The Privacy Officer confirmed the information that was transmitted. Interview and review of the letter submitted by the facility, on 2/03/15 at 1:30 p.m., revealed that the information included the patient's name, medical record and account numbers, date of service, treatment and insurance information.This incident was a result of the failure of the employee of the business associate to prevent co-mingling of documents and to verify identification on all documents prior to sending them on.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280