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.
ST. HELENA HOSPITAL CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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 October 5, 2012. Also cited in 13 other reports.
Report ID: 86DA11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: ST. HELENA HOSPITAL CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Issue:
Based on interview, clinical record and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep protected health information (PHI) confidential when physician's orders for seven Patients were faxed to an unauthorized person by error. This failure resulted in a breach of PHI and possible unauthorized use of the information.Findings:In an interview on 10/05/12 at 10:45 a.m., the HIM Supervisor for HIPPA stated that, on 8/20/12, physician's orders for Patients 1- 8 were misdirected via fax to an unauthorized person. In addition a Reise Petition for Patient 8 was included in the fax. The Supervisor confirmed the information which was sent.Review of administrative documents revealed that the information transmitted included Patients' name, age, date of birth, medical record and accounting numbers, and medical information. The physician's orders were intended to go to the facility kitchen. The Supervisor stated that the fax machine had been serviced and when the numbers were reprogrammed, the wrong number was recorded for the kitchen. She added that the Reise petition was not intended for the kitchen.The facility failed to ensure that correct faxed numbers were recorded in the Auto-dial fax system.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280