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.
VA Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on May 30, 2012. Also cited in 228 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000076181, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 18 Phoenix, AZ
Issue:
On 05/30/12 at 9:30 AM, Patient A received medications for Patient B at the PVAHCS Outpatient Pharmacy Out-window. Patient A was contacted about the error and informed that his medication(s) would be sent via UPS and a return envelope will be included to return Patient Bs medications to the PVAHCS Pharmacy. Patient Bs prescriptions were reprocessed and received, by Patient B, at the Outpatient Pharmacy Out-window. Update: 05/31/12:Patient B will be sent a letter of notification.
Outcome:
Pharmacy supervisor was able to identify the root cause as human error. No process issues involved. She provided immediate education to the staff member regarding high quality patient identity matching protocols to be followed. Letter to Veteran.