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.
KERN MEDICAL CENTER
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for violations of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on July 15, 2014. Also cited in 23 other reports.
Report ID: 5VGI11.02, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: KERN MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a bottle of prescribed medication for one patient (Patient A) was labeled with her name and not of another patient (Patient B). This failure resulted in a breach of Patient B's information to persons outside of the facility.Findings:During a review of the initial breach report dated 7/11/14, a pharmacist (Pharm 1) informed the Quality Department Registered Nurse (RN 1), on 7/7/14, of an incident on 7/1/14, when Patient A returned the bottle of prescribed medication sent home with him/her but had Patient B's label (name, medication and prescription number) affixed on the bottle. During an interview with RN 1, on 7/15/14 on 12:18 PM, she stated a pharmacist (Pharm 2) filled Patient A's prescription and erroneously affixed Patient B's label on the bottle. A pharmacy technician (Tech 1) handed the bottle to Patient A on 7/1/14. RN 1 stated Patient A discovered the bottle of medication had another patient's label affixed on the bottle so he returned the bottle to the pharmacy on the same day. RN 1 verified Patient B was notified of the breach by a letter sent on 7/8/14.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Medical Record Availability