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.
CONTRA COSTA 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 August 26, 2014. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: SE3011.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of Patient 3's protected, personal information, when the patient's discharge instructions were given to the incorrect patient. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy.Findings: During an interview on 8/26/14 at 10 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that the patient's instructions were given to the incorrect patient, when the employee failed to check the identity of the patient prior to giving the patient the documents. Both patients had been in the clinic previously and the nurse selected the wrong documents. The Compliance Officer confirmed the information which was disclosed.A review of the letter, submitted by the facility, revealed that the information included Patient 3's name, age, date of birth, gender, medical record number, date of service, medical information related to he clinic visit and preferred language.The incident occurred due to the staff person's failure to follow protocol to use two identifiers to reconcile the identity of the patient to the name on the documents, prior to transferring them to the patient.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280