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.
Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 15, 2012. Also cited in 141 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000082413, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 21 Martinez, CA
Issue:
An employee took home VA Advance Directive/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will (contains the full name, full SSN, home address, phone number, in addition they contain the patients appointed Health Care Agents full name, relationship, home address, and phone number) documents on patients. The employee passed away in September 2012 and her spouse found these documents in their home and returned them to an employee the last week of October. Incident was not reported to the Privacy Officer (PO) until 11/15/12. The number of documents originally returned is unclear as they have been shredded. The PO was able to obtain 9 patients documents today that had not yet been shredded. Update: 11/16/12:There is no way to know how long the documents were at the employees home since the employee passed away in September of 2012. The employee did not receive authorization to take the paperwork home. Only nine Veterans can be identified on the paperwork and all nine Veterans will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
Sent an email to all Social Workers reminding them of the importance to safeguard III/PHI and that they do not have permission to take this sort of information home.