HEMET VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 7WG511.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: HEMET VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure PHI for one patient (Patient 1) was not disclosed to a person or persons not authorized to receive it. This failed practice resulted in the potential for the information to be misused, and the potential for physical, financial, or emotional harm to Patient 1.Findings:During an interview with the HIM Director on May 25, 2012, at 9:50 a.m., the director stated on May 14, 2012, a clerk from medical records faxed PHI for Patient 1 to the wrong physician's office. The documents included in the fax contained the following PHI:1. Patient name;2. DOB;3. Age;4. Sex;5. MRN;6. Account number;7. Laboratory test results;8. Radiology test results;9. Medical history;10. Physical examination;11. Diagnosis; and,12. POC. The facility policy titled, "External Faxing of Protected Health Information," was reviewed on May 25, 2012, with the HIM director. The policy indicated PHI to be faxed externally would be verified and confirmed, prior to placement on the fax machine, to assure privacy of patient information was maintained.The policy directed the staff to do the following:a. Include the fax request with the documents to be faxed; and,b. Request a co-worker to verify the information to be faxed was for the correct patient and was being faxed to the correct requestor and fax number.During an interview with the HIM Director on May 25, 2012, at 9:50 a.m., the director stated the clerk did not include the fax request with the documents to be faxed, so the second verifier was unable to verify the correct recipient and fax number.The information was faxed to the wrong physician's office.

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: L2I911.01