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.
KINDRED HOSPITAL - RANCHO
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 September 22, 2011. Also cited in 1 other report.
Report ID: WDJ511, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: KINDRED HOSPITAL RANCHO
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to protect patients medical information. This breach caused patients protected health care information to be released.Findings: During the telephone interview on 9/19/11 at approximately 3:44 PM, the complainant stated that Patient A was discharged from the acute care hospital on 8/30/11. The complainant also stated that the discharge papers were stapled together and were handed to her husband by the nurse (RN A), but the discharge packet was prepared by the case manager (Case Manager 1).The complainant confirmed and stated that there were three pages of another patient's medical information and registration, unit shift report page, medication administration paper, and other documents that included many patients' names with diagnosis. Review of the following disclosed medical documents revealed: "Medical/Surgical Unit Report" contained the patient's name, age, gender, room number and infection status; the second floor "Unit Shift Report" contained the patients' names, gender, age, history and diagnosis, code status, vital signs, lab tests and other treatment information; and the "Medication Administration Record" contained patient's name, names of the different medications, admission date, diagnosis, and the physician's name.During an interview with Registered Nurse A (RN A) on 9/12/11 at approximately 3:35 PM, RN A stated, "The case manager was the one that put the discharge packet together, then gave it to the RN to fill up her part." RN A also stated that the discharge packet was placed in an envelope and then given to the patient. RN A stated the case manager was "Supposed to verify the contents." Review of the facility's policy and procedure titled "Discharge Planning", Policy Number: H-ML 10-013, revealed that it was the facility's policy that "Case Managers ... will provide individual discharge planning to each patient through assessment of discharge needs at admission, development of a discharge plan, implementation of the plan, evaluation of the appropriateness of the plan with on-going monitoring, and the coordination of final preparations for discharge."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights