SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Report ID: 5WIX11.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Issue:

Based on documentation and interview, hospital staff failed to implement a patient's right to confidential treatment of their stay in the hospital.According to a hospital report reviewed on 2/7/12, Patient 1 went to a hospital outpatient pharmacy to pick up medications ordered by her clinician on 11/29/11. Although the computer system showed the medication was ready, the pharmacy technician was not able to locate the drug. Patient 1 stated she would return in an hour. On the same day the sister (Patient 2) of Patient 1 presented to the same pharmacy requesting her medications. The pharmacist could not find her prescription thus Patient 2 said she would return later. Neither patient returned that day. In order to clarify the prescription problem, on 12/5/11 the Pharmacist spoke with Patient 2 about her medications and was told she picked up her sister's (Patient 1) medication on 11/23/11 but had not received her prescription.Further investigation revealed the pharmacist could find no evidence that Patient 1 had given her sister permission to pick up her medication. According to the hospital privacy officer, the prescription had the patients name, pharmacy number, medication name, dose and instructions. This infraction violated Patient 1's right to privacy regarding her treatment in the hospital.

Outcome:

Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights

Related Reports:

2 other violations reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 8CY211.01, DYZU11.01