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.
ST MARY 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 18, 2015. Also cited in 55 other reports.
Report ID: ZL7811, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: ST MARY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the confidential treatment of patient health information for (Patient ' s B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q) during the transfer of Patient A to a skilled nursing facility when their SBAR ' s (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) were included with the discharge paperwork for Patient A. This resulted in the unauthorized release of the protected medical information for (Patient ' s B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q).On February 18, 2015 at 9:20 AM, a phone interview was conducted with the manager of Accreditation (MOA) regarding an entity reported incident of breach of personal health information for (Patient ' s B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q) which was identified on January 21, 2015. The MOA stated, during the day shift (7 AM-7 PM) Registered Nurse (RN 1) assisted Registered Nurse (RN 2) with the discharge instructions paperwork for Patient A. Registered Nurse (RN 3) who worked the pm shift (7 PM-7 AM) received the discharge instructions for Patient A in a sealed envelope which she did not open prior to giving it to the transport driver. During a phone interview with RN 1 on February 20, 2015 at 12:25 PM, RN 1 stated she helped RN 2 with the discharge papers by putting the instructions in the envelope.During a phone interview with RN 3 on February 20, 2015 at 2:45 PM, RN 3 stated,"I got report from day shift male nurse and told me all of Patient A discharge instructions are done in a packed manilla envelope to give to the transport driver. "When asked, if she opened the envelope to verify it contained Patient A ' s paperwork RN 3 stated, "no".During a phone interview with RN 2 on February 20, 2015 at 3:15 PM, RN 2 stated was assigned to Patient A, and the team leader helped him with the discharge instructions. He couldn't remember the name of the resgistered nurse team leader that helped him with the discharge instructions. He gave report to RN 3 and told her,"there was a packet done in a manila envelope to be given to the driver". RN 2 stated,"they wait until the last minute to verify the instructions before a patient is discharged.A review of (Patient ' s B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q,) SBAR ' s health information sent to the nursing facility included: Patient B, C, D, E, F, G, H,I, J, K, L, M, N, O,P, and Q's name, diagnosis, age, height, weight, consults, Physician ' s names, MD ' s phone number, allergies, medical history, advance directives, fall risk, braden score (assessment for the risk of pressure sores), acuity (The level of severity of an illness), diets, procedures, tests, labs, and code status. In addition, Patient B, E, F, G, I, K, M, and N's PHI included: IV site (Infusion of liquid substance directly into the vein). Patient F and K included: aspiration precautions ( Measure taken to prevent a person from aspirating choking). Patient J and N included: last bowel movements.
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights