EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: SMOZ11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure all patient protected health information (PHI) was kept protected, which resulted in the unauthorized access of the patient's confidential information (Patient 7). Patient 7's confidential information was given to Patient 8 when Patient 8 was provided discharge instructions on November 11, 2011. This resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of Patient 7's protected health information (PHI).Findings:On August 27, 2013, at 10:20 a.m., an interview was conducted with the Compliance Specialist (CS). She stated: a. On November 11, 2011, Patient 8 was provided discharge instructions when he was discharged as an inpatient from a Medical/Surgical Unit.b. Patient 8's information label had been affixed to Patient 7's printed discharge instructions and given to Patient 8.c. The Registered Nurse (RN) discovered her error and retrieved the incorrect discharge instructions, with Patient 7's PHI, from Patient 8.d. On November 11, 2011, the RN reported the event through the facility's incident reporting system.Patient 8 received and had an opportunity to view Patient 7's PHI, which included name, medical record number, account number, physician's name, diagnosis, and Patient 7's discharge instructions.Patient 7 was informed of the disclosure of his protected health information (PHI) via a letter dated and mailed on November 18, 2011, to his last known address.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified via a letter dated November 18, 2011, of the unauthorized access of Patient 7's PHI.The facility policy and procedure titled "Patient Identification Policy and Procedure" revised January 3, 2011, revealed "... Patient identification at (name of facility) must be performed utilizing at least two of the following patient identifiers prior to any examination, provision of services, communication, treatment or procedure. ..."The facility policy and procedure titled "Information Privacy" reviewed/revised December 19, 2011, revealed "... (facility name) will take all necessary steps to avoid unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure of protected health information ... Whenever possible, the Information Privacy Officer will contact the individual or organization to whom the information was inappropriately or unlawfully accessed, used or released and requested that no further access, use or disclosure of the information is made and to return or destroy the information. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the Department of Public Health and report the breach within (5) five days of discovery. The Information Privacy Officer will contact the patient within (5) five days of discovery to inform him or her of the unauthorized access, use of disclosure and the plan or step's taken to mitigate it. ..."

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280

Related Reports:

3 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 4ZO211.01, JHR211.01, V7Z111.01