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.
O'CONNOR HOSPITAL
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 April 24, 2012. Also cited in 6 other reports.
Report ID: L9PO11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: O'CONNOR HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on documentation and interview, nursing staff failed to implement a patient's (Patient 1) right to confidential treatment of her record by inadvertently giving confidential information to an individual without authorization or need to know.Findings:In an interview with the hospital privacy officer on 4/24/12 at 2:15 p.m., The privacy officer stated Patient 1 was admitted to the Mother/Baby Unit (MBU) on 2/5/12 for delivery of her baby. After delivery, Patient 1 was preparing for discharge on 2/7/12. As Patient 1 and another patient (Patient 2) were being discharged, nursing staff gave Patient 2's medication prescription to Patient 1. On 2/13/12 the hospital received a call from a local pharmacist, stating the prescription given to Patient 1 did not have her name but that of Patient 2. According to the privacy officer, the prescription included Patient 2's name, medication and prescribing physician. The privacy officer further stated, nursing staff failed to use two patient identifiers when discharging patients (hospital policy). This process ensures the correct instructions are given to the right patient. The failure by nursing staff to ensure the correct discharge information was given to the right patient, resulted in a violation of Patient 2's right to confidential treatment of her medical information.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights