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.
EISENHOWER 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 February 21, 2013. Also cited in 279 other reports.
Report ID: 92HQ11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent the unauthorized access and/or disclosure of Patient 1's medical information. This had the potential to result in misuse of private information.Findings:On February 21, 2013, at 2:40 p.m., a phone investigation was conducted for an entity reported incident.In a concurrent interview with the Compliance Specialist (CS), the CS stated one of the facility's primary care clinic's (PCC's) Admitting Specialist (AS) mailed documents to Patient 2. During Patient 2's initial visit at the PCC on February 5, 2013, the patient brought in a document, which she indicated to the clinic's staff as not belonging to her. The CS stated the "Eligibility" document, with Patient 1's protected health information, was mailed to Patient 2. The CS stated the AS from the PCC did not ensure all the pages of the documents mailed belonged to the right patient (Patient B).The "Medicare A and B Eligibility" document, inadvertently mailed to Patient 2, was reviewed. The document contained Patient 1's name, Medicare Identification Number, date of birth, and address. The facility policy titled, "HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) - use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information (dated November 18, 2011)," was reviewed and indicated, "Protected Health Information (PHI) - Individually identifiable health information transmitted or maintained in any form or medium, including oral, written and electronic...Information is considered PHI where there is a reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify an individual."The facility policy titled, "Information Privacy (dated December 19, 2011)," was reviewed and indicated, "...Unauthorized of Unlawful Disclosure: is the release, transfer, provision of access to, or providing in any other manner of PHI outside of the organization, to parties without a treatment, payment or hospital administrative purpose..."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280