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MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER
PATIENT RIGHTS: CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS
Tag No.: A0147
Based on documentation review and confirmation by staff interview, it was determined that the Emergency Department nursing staff failed to protect a patient ' s personal information as evidence by giving Visitor #1 personal information of a patient in an isolated incident. Patient#1
The findings include:
The MedStar Washington Hospital Center Patient and Visitor Information Guide, page 30, section two (2) entitled " Protecting Patient Privacy " stipulates " ...We have the privacy of your medical information as an important part of our " Patient First " pledge. We are committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. We strive to use only the minimum amount of your health information necessary for the purpose of described in the Notice of Privacy Practice you received upon admission
Visitor #1 provided a copy of a document that was issued to him/her on February 1, 2014 by an emergency room hospital staff to the Department of Health. The document included personal information that was printed on a half sheet of paper. The document was reviewed on April 4, 2014 and April 7, 2014 at 3:00 PM and 10:30 AM respectively.
On the back half of the paper was a portion of Patient#1 ' s hospital face sheet. The face sheet contained the following information: Patient ' s name, account number, date, time, medical record number, admission complaint, patient ' s address, telephone number, and social security number, date of birth, and marital status.
A telephone interview was conducted on April 7, 2014 at approximately 11:44 AM with Employee #2 who was on duty February 1, 2014. It was stated by Employee #2 that he/she grabbed a piece of paper off the registration desk that was torn in half to write down one of the ED Nurse Manager ' s name and number as a contact. It was further stated that he/she did not know there was patient information on the back of the paper.
According to interview with Employee #3 on April 7, 2014 at 10:50 AM it was an " accidental breach of patient information. "
Hospital staff failed to maintain patient information confidentiality.