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.
MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for a violation of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on February 2, 2012. Also cited in 63 other reports.
Report ID: ZLX411, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on staff interview, and document review, the hospital failed to ensure that Patient 1's personal health information was shared only with individuals involved in the patient's care resulting in a breach of the patient's confidential information.Findings:On 1/20/12 the hospital reported to the California Department of Public Health that a portion of Patient 1's health record had been sent in error to a doctor not involved in Patient 2's care.During interview and concurrent document review on 3/14/12 at 1 p.m., Administrative Staff A stated that on 1/18/12, Doctor X notified the hospital that he had received a fax of a consultation and operative report for Patient 1 who was not his patient. Review of the documents faxed revealed that a report of consultation, dated 1/7/12, and an operative report, dated 1/3/12, were sent to Doctor X. The documents included the patient's name, medical record number, admission and discharge dates, and a full description of the patient's medical history, current illness, and the surgical procedure performed.Administrative Staff A stated that Doctor Y dictated the consultation, and Doctor Z dictated the operative report. In their dictations both doctors included Doctor X on their lists of doctors who were to receive the documents. The person who typed the reports sent the documents to all the doctors listed in the dictation per procedure. Administrative Staff A stated that he had attempted to determine from the two doctors how they came to include Doctor X on their lists of individuals who were to be sent a copy but neither of the doctors had responded. A letter describing the error was sent to Patient 1 on 1/20/12.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280