VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Report ID: CTW811.01, California Department of Public Health

Reported Entity: CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Issue:

Based on staff interview, clinical record review, and administrative document review, the facility failed to ensure confidential treatment of protected health information (PHI) when an admissions demographics sheet for Patient 1 was faxed to a clinic in error. The admissions demographics sheet included Patient 1's name, address, date of birth, sex, account number, and date of service. This failure resulted in unauthorized access to Patient 1's PHI and the potential for abuse of that information.Findings:On 12/27/2013 at 2 p.m., during an interview, the Accreditation Coordinator (AC) stated Patient 1's admissions demographics sheet was faxed to a clinic in error by a Case Manager (CM). The AC stated the CM intended to fax the admissions demographics sheet for Patient 2. The AC stated the CM did not verify the name on the admissions demographics sheet prior to sending the fax.The hospital policy and procedure titled, "Confidentiality" dated 08/11 indicated, "Policy. It is the policy of [hospital] to respect and protect the privacy rights of patients, their families, employees and third parties. All information that is deemed confidential by [hospital]...shall be kept confidential and shall not be copied, electronically accessed, transmitted or removed from Hospital premises under any circumstances whatsoever..."

Outcome:

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

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: 8N2Q11.01