CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: HHLO11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of 16 patients' (Patients 1 thru 16) protected, confidential health information when a binder, containing information and identification, was found n the hospital cafeteria. The binder was in an area where multiple people, who were not involved in the patients' care and not authorized to receive the information, had the potential for access. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patients' right to privacy. Findings: During an interview on 1/06/14 at 11 a.m., the Compliance Officer stated that a binder, containing some administrative information and specific information related to the 16 patients was left unattended and found in the hospital cafeteria. She confirmed the information which was contained on the documents.The interview and a review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed that the information included the patient's name, medical record number, date of birth, date of service, the indicator and location for service, the name of the reviewer, name of the provider and diagnostic information.The incident occurred due to human error when the staff person failed to secure all documents with sensitive information.

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

17 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 0YJP11.01, 713511.01, BEC611.01, GVRK11.01, HPHC11.01, K7R411.01, L47L11.01, LB4K11.01, O7N211.01, OVFL11.01, PM7E11.01, R7JJ11.01, RU3N11.01, RVRU11.01, SSOJ11.01, UG4I11.01, ZOHE11.01