LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 5ZMI11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the confidential treatment of Patient A's protected health information (PHI), when her discharge instructions were given by the emergency room (ER) registered nurse (RN) to Patient B. This resulted in a breach of Patient A's PHI.Findings:On January 31, 2014 at 1:30 PM, an unannounced visit was made to the facility to investigate an entity reported incident of a breach of PHI for Patient A.During an interview with the facility privacy officer on January 31, 2014 at 1:45 PM, he stated, "An RN (RN 1)was discharging two infants from the pediatric ER on January 20, 2014. Approximately ten minutes after RN 1 had discharged Patient B with her instructions, he realized in addition to her discharge instructions, RN 1 had also inadvertently given Patient B's parents the discharge instructions he had printed out for Patient A."A review of the facility policy and procedure titled, "Privacy and Security of Information resources," dated August 2013, was conducted. The policy listed PHI as, "individually identifiable health information...in any form...it relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual."During an interview with the FPO on January 31, 2014 at 2:00 PM, he confirmed that based on the facility's P&P, a breach had occurred.

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

2 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 8HL811.01, KN7C11.01