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 BERNARDINE 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 November 10, 2011. Also cited in 41 other reports.
Report ID: NO3311, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: ST BERNARDINE MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to protect Patient A's protected health information (PHI). This breach caused Patient A's protected health care information to be released.Findings:The facility self reported on 11/9/11 that a billing clerk (Employee A) had submitted a claim on a patient (Patient B) to an incorrect insurance carrier via US mail. The billing information for Patient B in the misdirected billing claim consisted of: a. Age.b. Sex.c. Patient ' s name.d. Date of birth.e. Address.f. Insured unique ID#.g. Numerical revenue codes.h. Service descriptions (Room charges, pharmaceuticals, supplies, lab tests, radiological tests, therapies, anesthesia, OR services).During an interview with the health information officer on 11/10/11, she confirmed that Employee A had violated Patient B's PHI, failed to do insurance verification. Review of the facility's policy and procedure titled "Safeguarding PHI and Sensitive Information", effective date: 1/5/09 indicated, "It is the policy of ... to provide appropriate access to its information based on a need-to-know basis while preserving its confidentiality and integrity. The ... facility shall implement reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards ... "
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights