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.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY 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 August 26, 2013. Also cited in 123 other reports.
Report ID: TS3F11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: RIVERSIDE COUNTY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent the unauthorized access and/or disclosure of Patient B's medical/private information.This had the potential to result in the misuse of Patient B's medical/private information.Findings:On August 26, 2013, at 11:50 a.m., a telephone investigation was conducted for an entity reported incident.In a concurrent interview with the Compliance and Privacy Officer (CPO), the CPO stated on August 16, 2013, during a Emergency Department (ED) discharge procedure, Patient A was given discharge instructions stamped with Patient B's information.The CPO stated the stamped information indicated Patient B's date of birth and medical record number.The CPO stated ED staff failed to ensure two patient identifiers were checked prior to giving discharge instructions to Patient A.The facility policy and procedure titled "Patient Privacy, Confidentiality, Medical Records, And Access To, Or Release Or Disclosure Of, Patient Information" revised January 2, 2009, indicated:"Purpose. To protect patient's rights to privacy and security of their healthcare information and to establish the criteria and the methods by which patient healthcare information may be accessed, used, released, or disclosed."Personnel shall maintain the confidentiality/privacy of information contained in the medical records of patients and, except for the purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, shall not disclose patient information without the patient's written authorization or...""Medical Information: Any individually identifiable information, in electronic, or physical form, in possession of or derived from a provider of healthcare, health care service plan, pharmaceutical company, or contractor regarding a patient's medical history, mental or physical condition, or treatment.""Individually Identifiable Information. The medical information includes or contains any element of personal identifying information to allow identification of the individual, such as the patient's name, or social security number, or other information that alone or in combination with other publicly available information, reveals the individual's identity."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280