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.
CONTRA COSTA 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 May 26, 2015. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: 07DS11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of a patient's (Patient 34) protected, confidential health information, when the patient's discharge information was given to a person not involved in the patient's care and not authorized to receive that 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 5/26/15 a at 10 a.m., the Compliance Coordinator confirmed that the patient's information had been released to the mother of another patient, when the staff person believed it was the correct person. She confirmed the information that was released.Interview and a review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed that the information which was given included the patient's name, diagnosis and discharge instructions. The staff person releasing the information failed to comply with the facility's policy to verify the identity of the patient (with two sources) and to reconcile the name on the document to the name of the patient when giving the document to anyone.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280