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.
Scripps Mercy Hospital
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for violations of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on February 26, 2013. Also cited in 72 other reports.
Report ID: JUZ011.02, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to maintain the confidentiality of medical record information of one sampled patient (Patient 1). The staff's failure to read and validate the correct name of the patient in the records, resulted in the unauthorized release of protected health information, which was also in violation of the patient's right to confidentiality of his/her medical record information.Findings:On 2/26/2013, an onsite visit of the hospital was conducted in response to a facility report of an unauthorized disclosure of Patient 1's medical record information to another patient. On 2/26/2013, at 2:45 P.M., an interview was conducted with the director of risk management regarding the reported incident. She indicated that the incident occurred at the Endoscopy Department on 1/25/2013, whereby 2 pages of Patient 1's discharge paperwork were inadvertently given to another patient at the time of discharge. The nurse prepared the discharge paperwork for both patients, but failed to follow the discharge process, and failed to check and validate the name of the patient as written in the discharge record, and the patient's identification arm band.The discharge paperwork that had been inadvertently given to the wrong patient contained the following protected health information for Patient 1: patient name, medical record number, age, date of birth, sex, type of procedure performed, biopsy done, and the name of the physician.On January 30, 2013, the hospital was notified by a patient, that the discharge paperwork given to her on 1/25/2013, belonged to another patient. Patient 1 was then notified by the hospital about the incident on 2/04/2013.The nursing staff's failure to check and validate the patient's name to ensure the records were released to the right patient, resulted to the unauthorized release of Patient 1's medical record information. This was also in violation of Patient 1's right to confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to his health care at the facility.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights