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.
EISENHOWER 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 February 6, 2014. Also cited in 279 other reports.
Report ID: 8SW111.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and facility document review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized access and/or disclosure of Patient 1's medical information, when a laboratory (lab) result was inadvertently faxed to an unintended recipient. This failure had the potential to result in misuse of private/protected information.Findings:On February 6, 2014, at 10:30 a.m., the Information Privacy Officer (IPO) was interviewed. The IPO stated that on January 16, 2014, a staff member faxed a two page lab report to the wrong fax number. The fax was meant to go to Patient 1's physician office, and instead went to a kidney center. The IPO stated staff entered the wrong number by mistake. The IPO stated when the Kidney Center office received the lab results for Patient 1 they notified the facility of the error.A copy of the two page report of lab results that were inadvertently faxed to the wrong number was reviewed. In addition to the lab results, the report contained Patient 1's name, date of birth, medical record number, and account number.A review of the facility policy, "Faxing Protected Health Information (Last Reviewed/Revised 03/21/2013)," indicated, "All Protected Health Information sent or received by (the facility) shall be in a manner that protects against unauthorized disclosure of such records to third parties..."The facility policy and procedure titled, "HIPAA-Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information," with a last reviewed/revised date of November 18, 2011, was reviewed. The policy indicated "...Protected Health Information ("PHI")...Individually identifiable health information transmitted or maintained in any form or medium...is considered PHI where there is a reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify an individual."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280