EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: ZMHY11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the PHI (protected Health Information) of Patient B remained confidential. This failure resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient B's Conditions of Admission, Surgical Consent and Pain Management Discharge Instructions to Patient A.Findings:An interview was conducted with the facility's Compliance Specialist (CS) on June 17, 2013, at 2:45 p.m. The CS stated when Patient A registered at the facility the Conditions of Admission, and the Surgical Consent were stamped with the PHI of Patient B. Upon discharge, the Pain Management Discharge Instructions were also stamped with the PHI of Patient B.A review of the Conditions Of Admission and Surgical Consent, and Pain Management Discharge Instructions dated April 22, 2013, was conducted. The documents reflected Patient B's name, date of birth, medical record and account numbers.A review of the facility policy, "HIPPA - (health information portability and accountability act), last Reviewed/Revised 11/18/2011," was conducted. the policy indicated, "It is the policy of (the facility) that the confidentiality of Protected Health information contained in records and collected pursuant to treatment will be protected to the fullest extent possible. To maintain this confidentiality (facility) staff may not disseminate PHI unless it is pursuant to a valid request, a valid authorization or a legally recognized exception to this requirement."

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 1RUO11.01