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.
EISENHOWER 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 February 4, 2015. Also cited in 279 other reports.
Report ID: IG0Y11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure all patient protected health information (PHI) was kept protected, which resulted in the unauthorized access of the patient's confidential information (Patient 3). Patient 3's confidential information was given to Patient 4 during a Same Day Surgery visit on January 15, 2015. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 3's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On February 4, 2015, at 8:30 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On January 15, 2015, an employee (Registered Nurse 1) of the Same Day Surgery Department gave Patient 4, page one, of a "Visit Summary" dated January 8, 2015, which contained a list of medications.b. On January 15, 2014, Patient 4 informed Registered Nurse (RN) 1 that the "Visit Summary" was not hers (belonged to Patient 3) and she was not taking the medications listed.c. Patient 4 gave the "Visit Summary" belonging to Patient 3 back to RN 1.d. RN 1 had not followed the facility practice of verifying the correct document was being given to the correct patient prior to giving Patient 4, Patient 3's "Visit Summary" dated January 8, 2015.Patient 4 received and had an opportunity to view Patient 3's PHI, which included name, date of birth, medical record number, date of service, gender, and listing of current medications.Patient 3 was informed of the disclosure of her protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on January 26, 2015, to her last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on January 26, 2015, and a letter dated and mailed on January 26, 2015, of the unauthorized access of Patient 3's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised January 2, 2014, revealed, "... (facility name) will take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information ... Whenever possible, the Information Privacy Officer will contact the individual or organization to whom the information was inappropriately or unlawfully accessed, used or released and requested that no further access, use or disclosure of the information is made and to return or destroy the information. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the Department of Public Health and report the breach within (5) five days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (5) five days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use of disclosure and the plan or step's taken to mitigate it. ..."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280