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.
Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on March 14, 2012. Also cited in 141 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000072858, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 21 Martinez, CA
Issue:
Veteran A received the non-VA Radiology Reports belonging to Veteran B in the mail in addition to her own records. Veteran A reported this incident to the local news station. The information at risk includes Veteran B's name, address, date of birth, partial SSN and diagnosis. Update: 03/15/12: Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services. 03/15/12: The local news station reported it on local news below is the internet story: http://www.news10.net/news/article/184224/2/VA-sends-veterans-medical-records-to-wrong-person SACRAMENTO, CA - The Department of Veterans Affairs is reviewing policies and procedures after a female veteran's record was sent to a different veteran. A Sacramento veteran, who spent 22 years in the Navy, requested her medical records be sent by certified mail. The vet, who wants to remain anonymous, said when she opened the certified mail, "I noticed it wasn't my name. It was a 10 page report of another female veteran. Name, address, phone number, the results of the exam that she went for." It didn't stop there. The records also included her partial social security number, emergency contact information, deep medical history and more. The mail came from the VA's Northern California Health Care System, and, according to the unintended recipient, it did not make the mistake a priority. "She wanted me to drive [the records] to them," the vet said. Northern California Health Care System representative Robin Jackson points to human error and said someone was going to drive over to the vet's home to pick up the documents. "This is extremely unusual and we have never had this happen before," Jackson said. "This is an isolated incident and was basically a human error. The envelope was inadvertently stuck to the other documents and put in place." Jackson also profusely apologized to the veteran whose information was sent to the wrong person and offered free credit monitoring. Staff members have also been talked to about the mix up, Jackson said. By Nick Monacelli, [email protected] News10/KXTV
Outcome:
Provided education to the employee on the proper safeguarding of patient information while mailing.