VA Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)

Report ID: SPE000000074504, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 18 El Paso, TX

Issue:

Veteran A returned information to the Supervisor for the Primary Care Clinic which had been mistakenly enclosed with an appointment reminder and sent to his home address. (Veteran had already thrown away the envelope in which this information had been received.) Mistaken information enclosed with Veteran A's appointment notification inicluded 4 printouts on 4 separate pieces of paper containing laboratory information, follow-up recommendations for these four separate Veteran patients, from Primary Care Provider; printed by nurse. The printouts included full patient name, full social security number, date of birth, recent laboratory results, medication and follow-up medical/treatment information as well as name of provider and nurse. Update: 04/24/12:All four Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services.

Outcome:

This mismailing resulting in the privacy breach of 4 Veterans has been reviewed with nursing staff as well s clerical support staff and medical staff. Corrective action included re-training and heightened awareness of all responsible staff, emphasis upon privacy of patient information as a standing topic of update and discussion with nursing staff as it relates to letters, telephone call, conversations/discussions about patient private information and having positively identified the correct patient before mailing, communicating or disseminating information. Responsible supervisors documented training/in-servicing and questioning of staff indicated awareness of responsibilities and accountability for correct processes related to mailings. Recommend ticket closure based on above fact-finding and corrective action taken. Redacted letter offering credit monitoring to affected Veterans for uploading to NSOC/PSET ticket. Additional letter of thanks provided to reporting Veteran thanking him for providing originals back to facility and support of appropriate privacy practices. Recommend ticket closure; submitted: Privacy Officer EPVAHCS

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: SPE000000074507