EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 950L11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of protected health information (PHI) for one patient, when Patient A's surgery clearance was faxed to the wrong provider. This failure resulted in an unauthorized entity having access to Patient A's PHI and the potential for misuse of the information. Findings:On December 12, 2013, the facility notified the California Department of Public Health, that a medical clearance report containing Patient A's name, date of birth, and scheduled procedure was inadvertently faxed to the provider. During an interview with the facility Information Privacy Officer (IPO) on February 6, 2014, at 10 a.m., the IPO stated Patient A's medical clearance was sent to the number on file for a physician. The number was incorrect and the document was sent to an unintended recipient. The IPO stated the recipient notified the facility and returned the document to the facility on December 5, 2013. The IPO stated the document included Patient A's PHI.A copy of the letter sent to Patient indicated: "a portion of your medical record, specifically, a medical clearance for surgery form containing your name, date of birth, and scheduled procedure was inadvertently faxed to an extended care facility."The facility policy and procedure titled "HIPAA- Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information," undated, indicated "It is the policy of ...(facility's name) that the confidentiality of Protected Health information in records and collected...will be protected to the fullest extent possible." The policy defines PHI as individually identifiable information. The policy indicated, "To protect the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality, at no time will names or information be shared with any person who does not have the need to know in order to provide patient care."A review of the facility policy, "Faxing Protected Health Information (Last Reviewed/Revised 03/21/2013)," indicated, "All Protected Health Information sent or received by (the facility) shall be in a manner that protects against unauthorized disclosure of such records to third parties..."

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

9 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 087T11.01, 6QGX11.01, 8SW111.01, EWFK11.01, GDIT11.01, GKSN11.01, I0NB11.01, N0EJ11.01, YD9Y11.01