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.
Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (VISN 22)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on February 9, 2012. Also cited in 129 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000071599, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 22 Los Angeles, CA
Issue:
On 01/13/12, a staff member found several pages of patient laboratory information on the East Drive/parking area of Building 500. Fourteen (14) pages of information were collected from the lot and were reviewed by laboratory personnel. It was found that all of these papers originated from the Microbiology Laboratory in Building 500 and information covered dates from 01/02/12 through 01/07/12. It was determined that the documents were not dropped by phlebotomists as the documents contained lab information that is obtained after receipt by the lab area.Microbiology retains these papers for one week then puts them in the shred bin for recycle pick up.At this point it is suspected that these papers were somehow separated from other shred and were left in the parking lot by the recycling crew. It is impossible to know for sure how exactly this happened. This is being looked into and the Privacy Officer is asking what measures are in place to prevent this type of loss of information, as the laboratory produces copious amounts of private data and the facility is concerned about the safety of this information. Update: 02/13/12:Seventeen Veterans will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
The environmental VA employees that collect the shredding have been retrained and advised by the Privacy Officer; their immediate supervisor; and the Chief to implement a plan for securing the shredding from start to finish. The plan needs to be submitted to the privacy Officer and implemented. Credit monitoring letters have been mailed to the Veterans.