CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: DZRR11.01, 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 20's protected, confidential health information, when the Registration Clerk inadvertently placed an identification band containing the patient's personal information on an incorrect patient. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy. This could additionally result in incorrect treatment.Findings: During an interview on 11/01/13 at 11 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that the patient's information had been included on an identification band which was placed on the incorrect patient when registering the other patient for an appointment. The compliance officer confirmed that the information released included Patient 20's name, medical record and account numbers, date of birth, gender, date of service and admission type. A review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed that this information was printed on a wristband and applied to the wrong patient. The error was subsequently discovered by a nurse who was checking the band.The staff person registering the patient failed to confirm the correct identity of the patient when applying the wristband.

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

14 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 12LJ11.01, 1FG111.01, 1ZEU11.01, 5HDU11.01, 6GWS11.01, 763C11.01, 7LFL11.01, FN0G11.01, IGX111.01, JCVI11.01, NKWI11.01, OFRL11.01, SJJ811.01, T14T11.01