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 January 6, 2014. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: ZOHE11.01, 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 129 patient's protected, confidential health information, when a flash drive was reported as stolen from an office in the facility. This allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information as well as a violation of the patients' right to privacy. Findings: During an interview on 1/06/14 at 11 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that a flash drive containing the 129 patients' protected medical information had disappeared. The incident was reported to the police as a theft. The compliance officer confirmed the information contained on the device. A review of the document submitted by the facility revealed that the information which was stored on the drive included the patients' name, medical record number, date of service and diagnostic information.The facility policy is clear about handling of any portable device which contains sensitive information, but a breach of policy allowed a device to disappear with the possibility that it had been stolen resulting in the potential for misuse of the information contained in the device.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280