EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 2O2811, 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 1). Patient 1's confidential information was incorporated into Patient 2's electronic medical record which was accessed and viewed by Patient 2. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 1's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On April 1, 2015, at 4:15 p.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On March 10, 2015, Patient 2 informed the Health Information Management (HIM) Department that he was able to view Patient 1's Mammogram results when he accessed his electronic medical record.b. Information Services (IS) was currently investigating the issue and believed this was an isolated "technical glitch."c. Both patients' were discharged on the same date and time, and the account numbers were very similar.d. On March 10, 2015, the HIM Department removed Patient 1's Mammogram results from Patient 1's electronic medical record.Patient 2 had an opportunity to view Patient 3's PHI, which included name, date of birth, medical record number, account number, date of service, gender, and mammogram results.Patient 1 was informed of the disclosure of her protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on March 31, 2015, to her last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on March 31, 2015, and a letter dated and mailed on March 31, 2015, of the unauthorized access of Patient 1's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised February 13, 2015, 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 request 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 (15) fifteen days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (15) fifteen days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use or 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