SHARP CHULA VISTA MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: HGFR11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: SHARP CHULA VISTA MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and document review, the hospital failed to ensure that 4 patient's medical information was kept confidential from anyone without authorized access.Findings:An unannounced visit to the hospital was conducted on 1/30/12 at 2:15 P.M., for the purpose of investigating an incident reported by the hospital. An interview with the Marketing Manager (MM) was conducted on 1/30/12, at 2:15 P.M. The MM stated that she received an e-mailed newspaper clipping from a local tabloid with 4 patient names, the sex of the babies they delivered on New Year's day, and the time they delivered. According to the MM, she checked to make sure that consents were properly requested and given by the patients who were named in the e-mailed newspaper clipping. However, the MM stated that there was no evidence that consents were given prior to releasing the 4 patient's medical information to the newspaper reporter.An interview with the Manager of Labor and Delivery (MLD) was conducted on 1/30/12, at 2:30 P.M. The MLD stated that all staff in labor and delivery were interviewed but no one admitted to giving the patient's medical information to the newspaper reporter.An interview with unit clerk (UC) 1 was conducted on 1/30/12, at 2:43 P.M. UC 1 denied releasing patient information over the phone. UC 1 denied hearing anybody releasing patient information over the phone.An interview with UC 2 was conducted on 1/30/12 at 3:00 P.M. UC 2 stated that she knew not to give any information over the phone.An interview with registered nurse (RN) 1 was conducted on 1/30/12, at 3:15 P.M. RN 1 stated that she had never heard of the incident. RN 1 also stated that she knew not to release any information over the phone.An interview with RN 2 was conducted on 1/30/12 at 3:45 P.M. RN 2 stated that she had never heard of the incident.A phone interview with the newspaper reporter was conducted on 4/6/12, at 12:05 P.M. The reporter stated that she called the labor and delivery unit and spoke to "somebody." The reporter stated that she did not get the name nor the title of the person that she spoke with on the phone. The reporter stated that she asked and was given, by the person on the phone, the names of the patients who delivered on New Year's day, time of delivery, and the sex of the babies. An interview with the hospital's Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) was conducted on 4/10/12, at 11:07 A.M. The CNO acknowledged that the 4 patient's medical information should not have been released to the newspaper reporter without the patient's or responsible party's consent.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: S38A11.01