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.
EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
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 August 21, 2013. Also cited in 279 other reports.
Report ID: J83A11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent the unauthorized access and/or disclosure of private/medical information for two patients, Patient's A and B.This failure had the potential to result in the misuse of Patient's A and B private/medical information.Findings:On August 21, 2013, at 11:15 a.m., a phone investigation was conducted for an entity reported incident.In a concurrent interview with the Compliance Specialist (CS), the CS stated on August 10, 2013, the facility was informed Emergency Department (ED) discharge instructions were "Inadvertently swapped"( Patient A's discharge instructions were given to Patient B, and Patient B's discharge instructions were given to Patient A).The CS stated "The Registered Nurse (RN) failed to follow the facility's discharge process by not verifying the name and birth date" (for Patient's A and B).The discharge instructions were reviewed and indicated the following information:Patient's A and B names,Medical record numbers,Hospital account numbers,Diagnosis, and Medication and treatment instructions.The facility policy and procedure titled "Admission, Transfer, and Discharge for the Emergency Department" revised April 11, 2013, indicated "Discharge Process...5. Present patient with discharge paperwork, verifying both the name and date of birth are correct."The facility policy and procedure titled "HIPPA- Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information" undated, indicated "It is the policy of ...(facility's name) that the confidentiality of Protected Health Information in records and collected...will be protected to the fullest extent possible."The policy indicated "To protect the patients right to privacy and confidentiality, at no time will names or information be shared with any person who does not have the need to know in order to provide patient care."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280