ALVARADO HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 5MVR11, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: ALVARADO HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to ensure that Patient's 1's rights, pertaining to confidentiality of protected healthcare information, was upheld. Patient 2's family member received a copy of Patient 1's labwork. Hospital staff failed to complete an thorough investigation to determine how the breach occurred and who was responsible, in an effort to provide appropriate education to staff and implement applicable preventative measures. In addition, the hospital failed to report the violation to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) within 5 days.Findings:An investigation was initiated on 6/26/12, at 10:10 A.M. According to the Nursing Manager of the Telemetry Unit, Patient 2's son approached Registered Nurse (RN) 1 on 5/25/12, and informed her that he had received copies of another patient's (Patient 1) labwork, when he had requested copies from his mother's medical record.On 6/26/12 at 10:50 A.M., an interview was conducted with the Director of Health Information Management and Privacy Officer (DHIMPO). Per the DHIMPO, the hospital had yet to determine how the breach occurred and who was responsible. The DHIMPO acknowledged that the hospital had not reported the incident to CDPH within the required 5 day time period. Per the DHIMPO, the Nursing Manager of the Telemetry Unit had not read her e-mail over the weekend and that contributed to the delay in reporting. The DHIMPO acknowledged that Patient 1's right to confidentiality of protected healthcare information had not been upheld by facility staff when copies of his labwork were given to another patient's family member.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights