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.
KINDRED HOSPITAL - RANCHO
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 September 21, 2011. Also cited in 1 other report.
Report ID: FQ8W11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: KINDRED HOSPITAL RANCHO
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to protect Patient A's medical information. This breach caused Patient A's protected health care information to be released.Findings:The facility self reported to the Department on 9/14/11 that the facility's case management department provided a discharge packet of information to the daughter of a former patient and inadvertently included a copy of the facility's Medical/Surgical Unit report, second floor Unit Shift report, one patient's medication administration record (MAR), and one patient's wound care report. The report also indicated that the "Medical/Surgical report contained the patient's name, age, gender, room number and infection status," and the "Second Floor Unit Shift report contained the patient's name, gender, age, history and diagnosis, code status, vital signs, lab tests and other treatment information." During an interview with Registered Nurse A (RN) on 9/21/11 at approximately 3:35 PM, RN A stated, "The case manager was the one that put the discharge packet together, then gave it to the RN to fill up her part." RN A also stated that the discharge packet was placed in an envelope and then given to the patient. RN A stated the case manager was "Supposed to verify the contents."Review of the Medical/Surgical report, second floor Unit Shift report, and the medication administration record (MAR), confirmed the above inadvertently disclosed medical information.Review of the facility's policy and procedure titled "Discharge Planning", Policy Number: H-ML 10-013, revealed that it was the facility's policy that "Case Managers ... will provide individual discharge planning to each patient through assessment of discharge needs at admission, development of a discharge plan, implementation of the plan, evaluation of the appropriateness of the plan with on-going monitoring, and the coordination of final preparations for discharge."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights