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.
VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network (VISN 17)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on May 14, 2012. Also cited in 122 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000075493, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 17 Harlingen, TX
Issue:
Veteran requested a copy of her medical records and Employee A fulfilled her request but inadvertently included a copy of a Benefit Travel List containing the first and last name of 20 veterans with their full SSN's in her packet. Veteran who obtained this list, returned it to Nursing Service at her appointment today. Update: 05/15/12:All twenty Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services.11/07/12:One of the Veterans is deceased and their next of kin cannot be located. Only 19 recieved letters.
Outcome:
Employee has been counseled to review each and every piece of paper prior to providing copies of medical records to Veterans to verify accurate patient identification.