VA Southeast Network (VISN 7)

Report ID: PSETS0000082725, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 07 Columbia, SC

Issue:

Veteran A filed a privacy complaint with Staff Assistant to Deputy Network Director. She reported that her primary care physician at Greenville Outpatient Clinic (GOPC) discussed her medical information with her sister, Veteran B. Veteran B is also treated by GOPC Primary Care physician. In addition, an outlook e-mail pertaining to Veterans A's complaint was inadvertently forwarded to an individual who works in the Primary Care Clinic at Minneapolis VAMC with the same name as the Chief of Staffs secretary at Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, by VISN 7 Network Office staff member. Also, Health System Specialist at VISN 7 Network Office forwarded the e-mail unencrypted to Dorn VA Chief of Staffs Administrative Officer. Contents of message included Veteran A's name, last four digits of SSN. No protected health information or other personally-identifiable information was included in the message. Update: 11/21/12:Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.

Outcome:

Letter signed by Director mailed to Veteran today indicating that investigation did not reveal that her medical information was inappropriately disclosed by CBOC Primary Care Clinic physician. Copy of letter attached.

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: PSETS0000082705