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.
South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on July 22, 2011. Also cited in 317 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000064958, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 16 Oklahoma City, OK
Issue:
A VA employee gave the wrong discharge instructions to Veteran A and possibly Veteran B. The Privacy Officer (PO) is still investigating to determine if the employee mixed up both of them or just one. The discharge instructions included the Veterans' name, date of birth, full SSN and protected health information (PHI). Update: 07/22/11:Only Veteran A's discharge instructions were compromised. Veteran A will receive a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
Nursing staff will be more attentative in the future and separate their papers so this will not happen again. Patients discharge instructions copy are to be printed that do not print with the social security number.