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.
Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (VISN 22)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 27, 2011. Also cited in 129 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000068087, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 22 Las Vegas, NV
Issue:
A Veteran became unmanageable and created a conflict which required VA Police to escort the Veteran from the clinic. A clerk provided the Veteran's wife with his paperwork prior to leaving the clinic. The Veteran's wife returned a document back to VA Police the next day stating the document was intermingled with the Veteran's paperwork. The document is a certification of a Veteran's monthly benefit payments to include dollar amount, full name, address, and the fact that the pension is for non-service connected disability. Update: 11/01/11:There was Personally Identifiable Information (PII) involved, but not the required criteria for credit protection services or HIPAA notification. The Veteran will be sent a general notification letter.
Outcome:
Incident did not happen on 10/24/11 as previously thought. On 10/18/11 at 8:05 am VA Regional Office faxed Veteran A benefit certification letter to the HUD-VASH. Veteran B HUD-VASH appointment was at 9:37 am; Veteran B Case Manager printed paperwork and gave to Veteran B, using the same fax/printer where Veteran As benefit letter was fax to. The Case Manager failed to notice intermingled with Veteran B paperwork was Veteran A benefit letter. Veteran B wife returned Veteran A letter back to VA Police on 10/25/11. Employee educated on the proper privacy protocols and reporting policy. Notification letter uploaded.