EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: LOGE11.01, 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 5). Patient 5's confidential information was mailed to a Private Business on November 21, 2014. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 5's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On December 19, 2014, at 11:15 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Deputy Information Privacy Officer (DIPO). She stated: a. On November 21, 2014, a medical record was mailed to a Private Business by a facility business associate employee.b. On December 12, 2014, the facility Health Information Management (HIM) received a telephone call from the Private Business who stated they were in receipt of Patient 5's PHI which they had not requested.c. The Private Business destroyed the medical record documents belonging to Patient 5.d. The facility business associate employee had mailed Patient 5's PHI to the Private Business rather than the medical record of another patient as requested by the Private Business.The Private Business received and had an opportunity to view Patient 5's PHI, which included name, date of birth, medical record number, account number, date of service, physician's name, address, telephone number, next of kin information, radiology results, laboratory results, diagnosis, transfer summary, and care/treatment received.Patient 5 was informed of the disclosure of his protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on December 18, 2014, to his last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a facsimile received on December 18, 2014, and a letter dated and mailed on December 18, 2014, of the unauthorized access of Patient 5's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled, "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised January 2, 2014, 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 requested 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 (5) five days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (5) five days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use of 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

Related Reports:

3 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 4DHI11.01, I3WP11.01, QQSI11.01