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 Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on April 17, 2012. Also cited in 187 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000074282, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 06 Fayetteville, NC
Issue:
On 04/17/12, the Privacy Officer recieved a call from a Social Worker at another VA hospital. The Social Woker stated that they were now treating a Veteran who had been seen at this facility and noticed records were released to the mother of the Veteran. Although there is guardianship documentation scanned into the medical record, it was expired and the mother did not have legal guardinaship at the time the medical records were released. Update: 04/18/12:The Veteran will be sent a notification letter due to PHI being released without authorization.
Outcome:
Process implemented to include identifying and underlining expiration date prior to scanning documents. This will assist staff in quickly identifying expiration date prior to release.