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.
VICTOR VALLEY GLOBAL 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 March 11, 2015. Also cited in 8 other reports.
Report ID: 20KV11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: VICTOR VALLEY GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the confidential treatment of protected health information (PHI) for Patient A, when a registered nurse (RN1) gave Patient A's medication reconciliation to Patient B upon discharge. This failure resulted in a breach of Patient A's PHI.Findings: During a phone interview on March 19, 2015 at 3:15 PM, RN 1, stated on February 10, 2015, when she started her morning shift the night shift Registered Nurse (RN 2) told her that everything was ready and Patient B just needed their discharge instructions. "I did not double check the discharge instructions." RN 1 stated, "I sent the patient home with another patient's medication reconciliation." When asked how this occurred, RN 1 stated, "No good reason why it happened. I was under the impression that everything was put together correctly. I was only instructed by the night shift RN 2 to give discharge instructions and discharge the patient. The paperwork was pre-done by RN 2."When asked what the facility 's discharge process was, RN 1 stated discharge instructions are explained to the patient and all discharge instructions are verified that they belong to the correct patient. The RN and the patient both sign. The RN and the patient's signature signify that the patient understands the discharge instructions and all documents belong to the correct patient.During a review of the documentation that had been disclosed to Patient B, the document contained Patient A's name, date of birth, admission date, medication names and medical record number.A review of the facility's policy and procedure titled, "Confidentiality," dated July, 2009, indicated, "It is the policy of (name of facility) to regard the patient's health information as confidential and abide by federal state laws .....The purpose of the release of medical information policy is to prevent inappropriate and/or unlawful disclosure of PHI ... .... ".The failure of RN1 to verify that all discharge instructions belonged to the intended recipient, Patient B, resulted in the unauthorized release of Patient A's PHI to Patient B.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights