VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System(ECHCS)

Issue: A nurse gave a four specimen containers and four labels to Veteran A. Veteran A realized later that the labels were for Veteran B. The labels contained Veteran Bs full name, social security number, and full date of birth.…

Outcome: 07/29/13: Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.…

Issue: On 7/11 a pharmacy technician placed a UPS label for Patient A on a package that contained medication for Patient B.

Outcome: 07/18/13: Patient B will be sent a notification letter due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.…

Issue: The Pharmacy department's address label creating software was inadvertently programed to print the patients' date of birth on the outgoing mailing label. The Pharmacy department has taken steps with the software companies technicians to correct the mistake. The packages were…

Outcome: 07/12/13: Due to the fact that the patients' date of birth was exposed with the full name, 172 patients will receive a letter offering credit protection services. 07/26/13: Seventeen more individuals were identified. They will also receive letters offering credit…

Issue: A patient received an appointment letter along with two other veterans appointment letters.

Outcome: 06/04/13: Two Veterans will be sent HIPAA notification letters due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.…

Issue: The privacy team at this facility was notified by email on 5/22/13 about two outpatient pharmacy mail out errors from the Outpatient Pharmacy Program Manager. It was reported that two separate pharmacy technicians mailed out medications to incorrect Veterans. For…

Outcome: 05/24/2013: Veterans B and D will be sent HIPAA notification letters.…

Issue: A Veteran received another Veteran's appointment cancellation letter.

Outcome: 05/17/13: One Veteran will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.…

Issue: Patient A received Patient B's appointment letter in with their appointment letter.

Outcome: 05/07/13: Patient B will be sent a HIPAA notification letter due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.…

Issue: A patient received their appointment letter along with three other patients appointment letters.

Outcome: 05/07/13: The other three (3) Patients will be sent HIPAA notification letters due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.…