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.
CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL 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 6, 2014. Also cited in 103 other reports.
Report ID: RVRU11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CONTRA COSTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of Patient 8's protected, confidential health information, when the patient's specimen collection kit was given to a person not authorized to receive that 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 1/06/14 at 11 a.m., the Compliance Officer confirmed that the patient's information had been released to another patient. He confirmed the information released included the patient's name and medical record number as well as the identification of the test to be completed.A review of the letter submitted by the facility revealed that this information was given to another patient with a specimen collection kit. The staff person releasing the information did not comply with the facility's policy to use two identifiers to verify the identity of the patient and failed to reconcile the name on the document to the name of the patient before handing the kit to the patient.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280