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.
QUEEN OF THE VALLEY 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 December 12, 2013. Also cited in 17 other reports.
Report ID: G6DS11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: QUEEN OF THE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and document review, the hospital failed to prevent unauthorized access to protected health information (PHI) in one case.Findings:During an interview on 12/12/13 at 9:30 a.m., Staff A stated that on 5/27/11, Volunteer B was on duty at the hospital. Complainant C told Volunteer B, an acquaintance, that her husband (Patient 1) was having surgery that day. Staff A stated that after Volunteer B left work, she told another person about Patient 1's surgery. That person told Complainant C that she knew about her husband's surgery. Staff A stated that Complainant C contacted him about the PHI breach on 6/1/11. During an interview on 12/12/13 at 10 a.m., Staff D stated that volunteers are trained in protected health information breaches on hire and yearly through a group power point presentation. Volunteers must sign a confidentiality agreement. On 12/12/13, review of the confidentiality agreement for volunteers demonstrated that the volunteer shall not disclose any protected health information to any person except as required in the course of duty. The volunteer will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination in the event of a breach.Document review on 12/12/13 verified that the breach was reported to the department on 6/8/11, within 5 business days of discovery.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280