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.
HEMET VALLEY 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 22, 2014. Also cited in 39 other reports.
Report ID: 9PKI11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: HEMET VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of 21 patients' protected health information (PHI). This failure had the potential to result in misuse of private information.Findings:On June 3, 2014, at 2:30 p.m., the Privacy Officer (PO) was interviewed. The PO stated, a home health agent (HHA), from an outside agency, presented to the 6th floor unit on April 23, 2014. The HHA asked for the room number for a specific patient that a physician had asked him to see. Instead, the Unit Secretary provided the HHA with a print out of two separate lists. The first list was, "6th floor Unit Census," and the second list was a, "Caregiver Inquiry Report." The PO stated, The HHA went in to see the patient, and then went to talk with the Case Manager.In the meantime, the PO stated, the Unit Secretary informed the Charge Nurse (CN) what she had done, and the CN informed the Case Manager.The Case Manager was able to retrieve both lists from the HHA.The lists given to the HHA contained the following PHI of 21 patients: Name, room number, account number, sex, age, admit date, attending physician, religion, medical record number, and admit complaint.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280