Birmingham VA Medical Center

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) was notified by BVAMC Pharmacy Service that a BVAMC Staff Pharmacist handed out a prescription to the wrong Veteran. Both Veterans were receiving the same prescription but were inadvertently in the wrong…

Outcome: 11/26/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team has determined that Patient B will be sent a HIPAA notification letter due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.…

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) was notified by BVAMC Pharmacy Service that a packaging error had occurred. Veteran/Patient A incorrectly received medication belonging to Veteran/Patient B. The incorrect medication was returned to the BVAMC and Veteran/Patient B's…

Outcome: 11/26/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team has determined that Veteran B will be sent a HIPAA notification letter due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.…

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) was informed by Nurse Manager that she received notification from a charge nurse that said charge nurse received a phone call from the wife of a Veteran/patient that she was in possession…

Outcome: 11/19/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team has determined that Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.…

Issue: Patient A presented to the Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Emergency Department on August 4, 2014 and was subsequently admitted and discharged on August 6, 2014. On August 7, 2014, Patient A presented to the BVAMC Emergency Department again and…

Outcome: 09/12/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team has determined that Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.…

Issue: The Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) was notified by a BVAMC Pharmacy employee that on 06/05/04, a medication error took place at the Pharmacy window. Veteran/Patient A received medication belonging to Veteran/Patient B. The medication label contained…

Outcome: 07/07/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team determined that Veteran/Patient B will receive a HIPAA letter of notification.…

Issue: A Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) physician notified his supervisor that he inadvertently sent lab results belonging to one patient/Veteran (patient A) to another patient/Veteran (patient B). Physician immediately notified patient B that he had been sent the lab results…

Outcome: 06/16/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team has determined that Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.…

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) was notified by BVAMC Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Nurse Manager via Reports of Contact (ROCs) that a BVAMC CBOC employee stated that another BVAMC CBOC employee had discussed patient information on…

Outcome: 03/05/14: This is a violation of patient confidentiality, of the numerous patients information being discussed only two Patients can be identified. Therefore Patient A and B will receive a notification letter.…

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) was notified by a BVAMC Patient Advocate that he received notification from a BVAMC patient that his ex-wife, an employee at the BVAMC, has been accessing his medical records and "spreading rumors…

Outcome: 01/17/14: The Veteran will receive a HIPAA letter of notification.…

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) received a report of contact (ROC) from a provider in the audiology department at the BVAMC that a BVAMC employee stated she was the daughter of a patient being seen at the…

Outcome: 01/17/14: The Veteran will receive a HIPAA letter of notification.…

Issue: Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Office (PO) received notification from VA Central Office of possible privacy breach involving mail sent from HEC. Upon investigation, BVAMC PO determined that one (1) Veteran was mailed a letter from the HEC which…

Outcome: 12/24/13: Veteran A will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.…