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.
Northwest Network (VISN 20)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on March 29, 2011. Also cited in 208 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000060159, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 20 Spokane, WA
Issue:
VA mis-mailed Veteran A's appointment schedule letter to Veteran B. Veteran B came into the VA with 2 appointment letters thinking that he had an appointment and he checked in with the appointment desk clerk who looked him up in the computer and informed him he was mistaken and that he did not have an appt. Veteran B gave both letters to the clerk who immediately recognized the mis-mailing error and kept the appointment letter intended for Veteran A. Update: 03/30/11:Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
Spoke to mail room clerk. Made him aware of the incident... automated folding/stuffing machine has sensory alarms that are suppose to detect errors such as this when two forms get pulled instead of one... but this one time the machine failed to detect the error and it was sent out undetected. Clerk is now aware and will look for possible errors in the future.