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.
South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on April 14, 2011. Also cited in 317 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000060933, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 16 Oklahoma City, OK
Issue:
On 03/31/10, the Oklahoma City (OKC) VA, Pathology & Laboratory Service packaged & placed a box for delivery to an ViraCor, an outside lab. On 04/04/11, the program support for transplant called the Administrative Officer of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, informing her that UPS had contacted her saying they had a specimen on a patient. They were not sure what to do with it and would be shipping it back to the OKC VA lab. On 04/05/11, a brown cardboard box arrived in OKC VA lab. The box contained the original, white cardboard ViraCor box undamaged. No shipping label was attached. The box was opened. Inside the original box were the three (3) patient specimens and ViraCor order sheets shipped from OKC VA lab on 03/31/11. The shipper opened the box. The ViraCor order sheets on the patients included the full patient name, full social security number and full birth date. Update: 04/14/11:Three Veterans will receive a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
Educated staff to ensure labels are securely placed on packages.