MaineHealth expressed regret and blamed the mistake on a computer
system glitch.
Letters of condolence and instructions for their next of kin on
how to settle their estates were mailed to 531 patients by the non-profit
integrated healthcare system that operates throughout Maine and New Hampshire
on October 20. This marked the start of the episode.
The letters were accidentally issued due to a glitch in the
computer system that generates estate vendor letters, according to MaineHealth.
“MaineHealth sincerely regrets this error and has sent apology
letters to all patients who have been affected,”
the company told the Guardian in a statement.
“At no time were
these patients listed as deceased in their medical records, and the issue has
been fully resolved.”
They were shaken, however, according to some patients who received
the letters. The event was “really shocking and upsetting,” according
to one woman.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told CBS13 that she
called MaineHealth to make sure she was well and that she was concerned about
what would have happened if her death had been officially reported. She also
mentioned that she still owed money to MaineHealth.
A hospital employee “said he was aware of the issue, and that they
were going to send out apology letters”, she told the outlet. She added that
the hospital employee also told her: “I’m glad to hear that you’re still
alive and well.”
The woman added:
“And I’m like, ‘Yeah, me too.’
I’ve had some tests done and my doctor is part of MaineHealth but
I haven’t even been in the hospital for anything serious that I could have died
from. So I don’t even know where they got that information.”
After a Maine civil jury in October handed a $25 million verdict
to a woman whose daughter died of leukemia after being mistakenly diagnosed
with a separate ailment connected to men who use steroids, news of the death
letter incident spread. The woman filed a negligence lawsuit against Mid Coast
Medical Group, which is owned by MaineHealth, following the death of her
daughter.
Which patients were affected and how were they notified?
The 531 living cases affected by the condolence letter error from
MaineHealth were notified originally through the incorrect letters themselves,
which informed them they had failed. Once the error was linked, MaineHealth
transferred follow- up reason letters to all affected individuals to clarify
the mistake and give consolation.
Healthcare associations generally have legal scores under laws
like HIPAA to notify cases directly and instantly in case of breaches or crimes
involving their particular health information. announcement generally occurs in
writing via first- class correspondence, icing clear communication about what
happened, the types of information involved, and steps the cases can take to
cover themselves.
Because this incident directly impacted further than 500
individualities, MaineHealth would also be needed to notify applicable civil
authorities including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and
original media outlets serving the affected areas without overdue
detention.
