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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 January 20, 2012. Also cited in 317 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000070893, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 16 Houston, TX
Issue:
There was a complaint emailed to VA Police Chief, Privacy Officer, and Information Security Officer to report a missing audiotape. On Thursday January 19, 2012 the Nurse Manager noticed that the Audiotape with testimony was missing from her office. As of Friday January 20, 2012 the tape had not been returned or located, so the Nurse Manager reported the missing audio tape. Currently this is only a complaint and an investigation to gather more details is underway. Update: 01/27/12:According to the owner of the tape, there is the patient's name on the tape. It is an interview with the patient about an alleged complaint toward an employee. Still under investigation (it is not known if there is any PHI or whether the Patient's full SSN or DOB is mentioned).02/02/12:Nurse Manager supplied the following updated info on the missing audio tape: No social security number was written or mentioned in the recordingNo specific dates were used (only date ranges)No appointments were mentionedNo other patients were mentionedThe only identfier written on the tape was the patient's name:So the only PHI would be 1 patients name and their voice on the audio tape.
Outcome:
Staff to assure door to office is locked when not occupied and documents/tapes etc. containing PII maintained in locked cabinet.