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.
COMMUNITY 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 November 14, 2014. Also cited in 62 other reports.
Report ID: UT6111, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: COMMUNITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical record and administrative document review the facility failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when Patient 2 received discharge instructions with Patient 1's middle initial and date of birth. These failures placed Patients 1's PHI at a potential risk for unauthorized use. Findings:On 11/14/14 at 2:26 p.m., during a telephone interview, the Privacy Officer (PO) stated her office was contacted by a correctional facility and informed that an inmate had received discharge instructions with Patient 1's middle initial and date of birth. The PO stated upon the facility's investigation, it was discovered, that Patient 1 was incorrectly registered under Patient 2's medical record number. Patient 1 and Patient 2 had the same name, but different middle initials and different dates of birth. The PO stated Employee 1 did not check to make sure he had registered the right patient when Patient 1 arrived at the facility.The hospital Policy and Procedure titled "HIPAA General Rules for the Use and Disclosure of PHI" dated 4/18/12, indicated "III. Guidelines: A. Protected Health Information and Records indicated: 1. Protected health information includes any information received, created or maintained by ... in which the patient is ... identified, regardless of whether the information is in oral, paper or electronic form. I. Accurate Information: 1. It is the responsibility of all individuals who collect information from patients ... medical record ... to be as accurate and complete as possible."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights