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.
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
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 January 25, 2012. Also cited in 44 other reports.
Report ID: CBOS11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to protect Patient A ' s medical information. This breach caused Patient A ' s protected health care information to be released.Findings:The facility self reported that the Patient Business Office inadvertently mailed a copy of Patient A ' s billing record to Patient B and that Patient B notified the facility and had returned the document.During an interview with the Customer Service Collector A on 1/25//12 at approximately 3:31 PM, she confirmed that she " Sent out the wrong information to the other (wrong) patient. " The Customer Service Collector A stated, " Suppose to verify the name, address, the information going to be sent, and to verify the name on the envelope. " She also stated, " I can ' t figure out how I printed the label of a patient that never requested for information. " She stated that she gets 2 copies of the billing statement, one copy for the patient ' s file, and the other copy to be mailed out to the patient that requested it. Customer Service Collector A confirmed that one copy was sent to the right patient (Patient A) however, the other copy was sent to the wrong patient (Patient B). The envelope had a wrong name and address. The released healthcare information of Patient A included: a. Name of patient.b. Medical record number.c. Social Security number.d. Address.e. Insurance information.f. Description of services billed.The policy and procedure titled " Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information " , effective date 12/2009, indicated, " ...Employee shall establish the identity of individuals to whom they disclose PHI to limit the possibility of unauthorized disclosures.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights