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.
COMMUNITY REGIONAL 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 March 14, 2014. Also cited in 62 other reports.
Report ID: F3F811, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: COMMUNITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview and clinical record and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when Patient 1's PHI was faxed to an unauthorized recipient. This failure resulted in not protecting the PHI for Patient 1 and the potential for unauthorized use. Findings: On 3/14/14 at 9:25 a.m., during an interview, the Privacy Intake Specialist (PIS) stated the Case Manager (CM) was gathering Patient 2's information to be faxed. As the CM gathered Patient 2's information Patient's 1's PHI was accidentally placed in Patient 2's file and sent to an unauthorized recipient. Review of Patient 1's medical record indicated the following information was faxed: history and physical and hospitalist progress notes. Included on the PHI was: Patient 1's name, date of birth, medical record number, physician name, lab values, medications, x-ray results and history. A certified letter was sent to Patient 1 informing her of the breach. The (Hospital) Policy and Procedure titled, "HIPAA General Rules for the Use and Disclosure of PHI" dated 4/18/12 indicated, "Protected health information includes any information received, created or maintained by...in which the patient is...identified, regardless of whether the information is in oral, paper or electronic form...it is the responsibility of all (Hospital) workforce members to comply with policies and procedures...identify...security breaches."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights