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.
Northwest Network (VISN 20)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 1, 2012. Also cited in 208 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000080676, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 20 Portland, OR
Issue:
Veteran A contacted local VA Police over the weekend to report that he had received a package for Veteran B at the home he recently moved into in the last few weeks. Veteran B left no forwarding address. Veteran A attempted to contact the local VA Pharmacy about the issue and was forwarded to a VA employee who told him the package did not contain any medications. Veteran A was told the box only contained adult diapers. The Veteran has reported to the local Privacy Officer his concerns of this disclosure being a Privacy violation.The Pharmacy Service is attempting to contact Veteran B to acquire his new address to re-send the supplies, but there is not an address for next of kin or emergency contacts in the record and the one phone number available is disconnected. Update: 10/01/12:Veteran B will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
The Veteran who received the package said he would return it to his closest VA clinic for disposal. The package was sent to the address that was correct in the system. Replacement supplies have already been sent to the Veteran's current address.