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.
Mercy 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 October 18, 2013. Also cited in 34 other reports.
Report ID: MD4N11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, facility and administrative document review the facility failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when patient 1's name label was placed on another individual's paperwork. This failure resulted in the potential risk for patient 1's PHI not being protected and for potential use by an unauthorized person.Findings:1. On 11/1/13 at 3:00 p.m., during an interview the Privacy Officer (PO) stated that on 9/25/13 the facility was notified that a name label with Patient 1's name, service account number, medical record number, date of birth and service location was placed on another individual's paperwork. Patient 1 was notified by certified mail of the breach. The facility policy and procedure dated: 12/09, titled "Protected Health Information and Sensitive information Safeguarding of " indicated: "It is the policy of Mercy Medical Center to comply with state and federal regulations regarding the safeguarding of physical and electronic form of Protected Health Information (PHI). Staff shall provide appropriate access to its information bases on a need- to- know basis while preserving its confidentiality integrity.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights