MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL

Report ID: 256Z11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL

Issue:

Based on interview and document review, the hospital failed to prevent unauthorized access to one patient's protected health information (PHI).Findings:In interview on 4/5/12 at 1:30 p.m., Staff A stated that he was notified by Staff B on 4/3/12 that on that day, a medical transcriptionist (MT) employed by the hospital's contracted transcription service had faxed Patient 1's hospital emergency department (ED) treatment dictation to Physician C instead of Physician D as requested by the ED physician. Staff B reported that she listened to the dictation and there was no mention of Physician C. On 4/4/12, Staff B notified Staff A that she had confirmed that Physician C's office had destroyed the document. Staff A stated that Patient 1 and the Department were notified of the error on 4/5/12.Document review on 4/5/12 demonstrated that on 4/4/12, the contracted transcription service staff verified that their MT had faxed the report to Physician C in error and had been terminated. Document review on 4/5/12 demonstrated that Patient 1's breached PHI consisted of her name, age, medical record number, medical history and physical examination, studies performed, treatment dates, discharge diagnoses, and treating physician.Document review on 4/5/12 demonstrated that Patient 1 and the Department were notified of the breach on 4/5/12, within 5 business days of discovery of the error.

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 4TKR11.01