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.
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
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 20, 2014. Also cited in 64 other reports.
Report ID: 4HZO11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Issue:
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of protected health information (PHI) for one patient (Patient 1). An employee gave Patient 1's prescription to another patient. This failure resulted in an unauthorized person having access to Patient 1's PHI and the potential misuse of the information.Findings:On November 20, 2014, at 8:30 a.m., the Privacy Manager (PM) was interviewed. The PM stated when a nurse was going over discharge instructions with Patient 1 she realized that the prescription for pain medication was missing. The nurse realized she had inadvertently given the prescription to the previous patient (Patient 2) that she had just discharged. The prescription that was given to Patient 2 contained the following PHI for Patient:- Name;- Address;- Date of birth; and- Name of pain medication prescribed.The policy and procedure titled, "Safeguarding Protected Health Information," dated September 23, 2014, was reviewed. The policy indicated, "Facilities must have a process in place to verify documents are for the correct patient prior to providing the documents to the recipient..."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Health & Safety Code 1280