Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
Phoenix VA Health Care System
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 12, 2013. Also cited in 102 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000096858, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: PHOENIX AZ - 644
Issue:
On, 11/12/13, the Privacy Officer (PO) at Memphis, TN reports that a Veteran reported to him that our facility provided him with medical records of another Veteran. The records were requested and provided to the Veteran during June 2004. The Veteran wrote a letter with this privacy complaint, dated June 2007 but dated the letter again in June 2012. It was addressed to staff that were not here in 2012. It is not clear if his complaint ever reached this facility on either dates. Upon review, there are three pages of documents which do not belong to the requestor, dated 2000. Additional notification and investigation to ensue.
Outcome:
11/13/13: Contacted HIMS Chief. She relates that both Veterans charts have been retired. ROI+ does not show that we ever received a letter from Veteran for additional request for records nor that we fulfilled more than 1 portion of his request for records in 2004. The Veteran whose records were included in the other records passed away in 2009. Asked that NOK be pulled as well as records. Asked Memphis VA why records received had not been provided to us earlier, how they were secured, asked who else saw them, and did we recover all copies. Memphis VA did query Veteran who did not realize he had records until working on additional claims.All copies of other Veteran's records turned over to Memphis VA; no one else saw records. Records were secure in household, not reviewed in 9 years. NARA contacted by HIMS department to pull records. Review of records, pending. 11/18/13: Veteran B's next of kin will be sent a noitification letter.