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 Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on May 2, 2012. Also cited in 228 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000074968, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 18 Tucson, AZ
Issue:
An email from one of our physicians private email account was sent to other VA physicians private email accounts (as well as to one to VA account). The email contained the full name of 8 patients and the full name and last 4 digits of the SSN of 5 other patients. The email also contained medications, medical history, and procedure information. It was basically hand-off information. This email was printed out and left on the counter of the nurses station on 2 South. It is unknown if anyone saw it but it was printed out yesterday and discovered this morning. Update: 05/02/12:Eight (8) Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
Leadership provided additional training on how to appropriately safeguard information and send encrypted email. The affected Veterans were notified and offered free credit report monitoring.