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 February 28, 2013. Also cited in 208 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000086232, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 20 Seattle, WA
Issue:
On 02/15/13, a contract staff member at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) discovered she had given Patient A's medication list to Patient B. Staff contact Patient B, confirmed this, and requested the return of the medication list. The list was mailed back and upon receipt, shredded. All staff at the CBOC were re-educated on the policy of using two patient identifiers whenever providing documentation to patients. Ongoing compliance monitoring will continue. Update: 02/28/13:Patient A will be sent a HIPAA notification letter.
Outcome:
Noted in the initial report, the CBOC staff were reeducated on policy and instructed to retake the national Privacy training.