FierceHealthcare reports that the California Department of Public Health has issued citations against Shasta Regional Medical Center (SRMC) for repeated patient privacy breaches. The CEO of SRMC, which is under Prime Healthcare Services (PHS), sent an e-mail with sensitive health data to approximately 800 employees. Additionally, SRMC's CEO along with its chief medical officer released a patient's medical files to the media. A PHS spokesman said that the organization "continues to believe that the disclosures, if any, were permitted under both federal and state law." The professional practice director of the American Health Information Management Association said, "It fully demonstrates the need for continued privacy and security education and training at all levels within healthcare."
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