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.
ST MARY 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 March 11, 2015. Also cited in 55 other reports.
Report ID: 44OV11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: ST MARY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to ensure the confidential treatment of patient health information for Patient A. Patient B was discharged with Patient A's discharge instructions. This resulted in the contents of her personal information being viewed by Patient B.On March 11, 2015 at 11:30 AM, a phone interview was conducted with the Risk Manager/HIPPA Compliance Coordinator (RMHCC) regarding an entity reported incident of a breach of personal health information for Patient A, which was identified on January 31, 2015. The (RMHCC) stated, Patient B called the hospital and said she was given the wrong papers from another person. Patient B said she would return Patient A's after care instruction. We called Patient B to remind her to return Patient A's after care instructions but she never did. We notified Patient A regarding the breach on February 6, 2015.During a phone interview with Registered Nurse (RN 1) on March 12, 2015 at 3:55 PM, she was asked what happened the day Patient B received Patient A's discharge instructions. RN 1 said it was busy, I had two discharges and I helped during a rapid response team. The patient was rushing me. She needed to go because her daughter was waiting for her. RN 1 stated she printed the discharge paperwork twice because they were having printing problems with the printing machine. RN 1 said the next time a family or patient rushes her to do the discharge instructions she will make sure she reads the discharge instructions to the patient and ask for the family to wait to prevent from discharging the wrong patient information.A review of Patient A's discharge instructions given to Patient B revealed Patient A's account number, after care instructions for Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension), medical record number, physicians name, and date of birth.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights