CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: IGX111.01, 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 a patient's (Patient 1) protected, confidential health information, when Patient 1's medical information was given to a person not authorized to receive that information. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy.Findings: During an interview on 11/01/13 at 10 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that the patient's information had been released to a family member without the adolescent (age 17) patient's consent. She stated that the patient's relative signed a release of information request on 10/23/12 and received the information on 10/25/12. She confirmed the information released included the patient's name, progress notes and laboratory results for 12/08/11, 2/17/12 and 3/05/12. A review of the facility Policy: Release of Medical Information, Procedure; 2. a, 1: A minor who consents to care under which they are entitled to by law may request their own records, but in those cases, a representative does not have the right to access the records. The staff person releasing the information did not comply with the facility's policy on release of records for a minor and, by doing so, violated her rights.

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, DZRR11.01, FN0G11.01, JCVI11.01, NKWI11.01, OFRL11.01, SJJ811.01, T14T11.01