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.
SHARP CHULA VISTA 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 15, 2012. Also cited in 46 other reports.
Report ID: 29GS11.01, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: SHARP CHULA VISTA MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to ensure that Patient 1's protected health information (PHI) were kept confidential from anyone without authorized access.Findings:An interview with the Privacy Officer (PO) was conducted on 2/15/12 at 3:31 P.M. The PO stated that Patient 1 and Patient 2 were both seen at the hospital's emergency room on the same date. The PO stated that in the process of transferring Patient 2 to another hospital, Patient 1's facesheet and radiology CD (compact disc) was inadvertently sent with Patient 2's records. A review of the facesheet indicated Patient 1's name, home address, phone number, date of birth, medical record number, diagnosis, and the names of the patient's son and daughter. According to the PO, the radiology CD contained the patient's chest x-ray result.An interview with the Emergency Department Manager (EDM) and the Clinical Lead (CL) was conducted on 2/15/12 at 4:45 P.M. The CL stated that the staff should check each page of the record to ensure that the record belongs to the correct patient and initial each page with his or her name prior to releasing the patient's record. According to the EDM, the staff checked and initialed each page of Patient 2's record. However, Patient 1's facesheet and radiology CD was handed to the staff later and was not checked and initialed before releasing the records. The EDM and the CL acknowledged that the staff should have checked the facesheet and the radiology CD to ensure that the documents belong to Patient 2.A review of the ED (emergency department) Discharge Process instruction, the record indicated the staff to, "Check all pages of discharge instructions to make sure they belong to the same patient; Verify name and medical record number against patient arm band; Armbands should be removed from patient at time of discharge from the ED; With Patient, Family, (EMS/Paramedics for transfer/transport), thoroughly review each page for correct patient name, then initial each page."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights