HospitalInspections.org

Based on staff interview, medical record and administrative document review, the facility failed to maintain the confidentiality of protected health information on one of two patients.

Findings:

During an interview on 4/27/10 at 8:50 a.m., the CPHQ, (Compliance and Privacy officer on Hospital Quality) stated that, "Employee one discharged Patient two with Patient one's prescription...the Doctor entered the wrong patient identification number...the prescription was correct...the patient name was wrong."

During the clinical record review on 4/27/10 at 9:15 a.m., patient two's documentation of the prescribed medication was correct. When Patient two's family went to fill the medication, the pharmacist noticed Patient one's name on the prescription and contacted the facility regarding the error. The error was corrected and the medication was filled with Patient one's name. This failure to accurately enter the protected health information on the prescription of Patient one, resulted in a violation of patient's privacy rights for Patient two.

During Administrative Document review on 4/27/10, the Policy for Medication Reconciliation in the Emergency Department indicated that,"...medication information is reviewed and communicated to the next provider...and during the prescription writing process...The patient and family are provided with medication information upon discharge from the ED."