South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16)

Issue: A Veteran has numerous issues with a contract dialysis nurse who is also is wife. His wife is accessing the Veteran's record when he has appointments and they are not for dialysis. His wife has no need to know but…

Outcome: The contract company states their employee resigned after the findings by this medical center. They have further educated their employees on need to know and access.…

Issue: Employee A overheard coworkers discussing her health information. The employee desires credit monitoring. It was confirmed that two individuals entered Employee's A record without proper authorization or justification. Update: 08/17/12:Due to full SSN and medical information being compromised, Employee A…

Outcome: One on one training given to individuals who entered complainant's record on when "Entering Employee Medical Records" is OK/not OK. Credit monitoring letter mailed to complainant 08/21/12 and redacted copy uploaded.…

Issue: Veteran A called the outpatient pharmacy department to report he had not received his prescription. When the pharmacist checked he saw that the prescription had been mailed to an incorrect address. A pharmacist input an incorrect address. It was not…

Outcome: The importance of verifying correct information is entered into UPS mail system reinforced with pharmacist. Pharmacist said he would be more careful in the future.…

Issue: Employee A read something in the newspaper regarding Employee/Veteran B. Employee A is not providing patient care to Employee B. Update: 08/17/12:Employee A accessed Employee B's records, but it has not been determined if this was unauthorized at this point.…

Outcome: Employee A has been given a written couseling.

Issue: Employee A entered record of Employee/Veteran B. Employee A stated that it was believed the SSN of the employee/Veteran B was one of the SSNs employee A processed. Employee A also stated that email from Employee C regarding the death…

Outcome: Employee A has been given a written couseling.

Issue: Employee A heard about the passing of Employee B and entered the record to obtain home address to place flowers at home. This was on the news this morning local area regarding the passing of Employee B. Update: 08/02/12:Employee B'…

Outcome: The service of the employee A already has issued a non punitive letter of counseling to employee file.

Issue: Employee A, who is a Veteran, was admitted into the our hospital. The Information Security Officer (ISO) was asked to keep an eye on Employee A's medical record. The ISO found that three other employees accessed the record without authorization…

Outcome: The incident has been reported to Human Resources (HR) and administrative action is pending.

Issue: An employee was shipping an original Claim File to a VBA employee. When the VBA employee received the package, the file was not in the box, the file was replaced with four Vator drum sticks. Update: 07/30/12:The Veteran will be…

Outcome: Employee labeled box correctly and took all appropriate steps to report the violation.

Issue: Veteran A contacted one of the Information Security Officers and reported they received several copied pages of medical records belonging to Veteran B in the mail. Veteran A was contacted by the Privacy Officer to obtain specific details. Veteran A…

Outcome: Employee received written counseling for this privacy violation. Also, required to repeat privacy and information security annual training. Employee was placed on PIP due to performance.…

Issue: Veteran A's FDA medication guide was given to Veteran B as it was mixed in with Veteran B's FDA medication guide for a different medication. Update: 07/19/12:Veteran A will be sent a letter of notification.…

Outcome: Supervisor spoke with the employee about the importance of accuracy.