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 Southeast Network (VISN 7)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on June 17, 2011. Also cited in 225 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000063808, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 07 Columbia, SC
Issue:
Received phone call from Veterans A mother on 6/17/11. She advised that her son received copies of two Compensation and Pension Examinations on Veteran B. Both veterans had the same name. Her son (Veteran A) received the documents on 6/15/11. She reviewed the documents on 6/16/11 and noted that the documents were on another Veteran (Veteran B).Documents consisted of two Compensation and Pension Exams (three pages).Documents included Veterans B full social security number and protected health information.Veterans A mother is mailing the documents back to the Chief, HIMS/Alternate Privacy.Copies of Compensation and Pension Exams will be mailed to Veteran B today. Veteran A received Veterans B medical reports on 6/15/11. Documents were mailed from Release of Information Office on 6/13/11.Release of Information Office technician selected the wrong veterans addressin the DSS-ROI software. Both veterans have the same name. Update: 06/17/11:Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
The documents were immediately returned to the Dorn VA Medical Center. The ROI Supervisor has instructed employees to conduct peer reviews of all documents being mailed out to ensure that all Veterans receive the correct PHI.