EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: DLEB11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the PHI (protected health information) of Patient A remained confidential. This failure resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient A's PHI to an unauthorized individual in the community.Findings:An interview was conducted with the facility's Legal Counsel (LC) on August 22, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. The LC stated a scheduler at one of the facility's outpatient surgical centers faxed Patient A's PHI to an incorrect medical providers office.A review of Patient A's PHI which was faxed was conducted. The PHI reflected Patient A's name, address, phone number, the last 4 digits of his social security number, his birthdate, and the name of his medical insurance company. Additional PHI faxed included identification of a radiological procedure planned for Patient A, and instructions related to the procedure.A review of the facility policy, "Use and disclosure of Protected Information (Last Reviewed 12/19/11)," was conducted. The policy indicated, "It is the policy of (the facility) that the confidentiality of Protected Health Information contained in records and collected pursuant to treatment will be protected to the fullest extent possible. To maintain this confidentiality (facility) staff may not disseminate PHI unless it is pursuant to a valid request, a valid authorization or a legally recognized exception to this requirement."

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: 3F9611.01