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 January 27, 2015. Also cited in 17 other reports.
Report ID: 3DGJ11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: QUEEN OF THE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of Patient 13's protected, confidential information, when a Conditions of Admission Form was included in documents given to another patient, who was not involved in the patient's care and not authorized to receive the information. This failure allowed for potential unlawful or unauthorized use of the information and violation of the patient's right to privacy. Findings: During an interview on 2/03/15 at 1:30 p.m., the Privacy Officer confirmed that the patient's information had been given to another patient. The form had been left in a folder which Employee A used for discharge documents for the other patient. The Privacy Officer confirmed the information that was provided. Interview and review of the letter, on 2/03/15 at 1:30 p.m., submitted by the facility, revealed that the information included the patient's name, medical record number, date of birth, gender, physician's name and date of service.This incident was a result of the employee's failure to follow Policy C5-12 to verify identification of the patient and to reconcile the identification with the names on all documents, prior to giving them to a patient.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280