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 Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on April 29, 2011. Also cited in 228 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000061807, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 18 El Paso, TX
Issue:
Veteran A returned information that he had received via mailed envelope which contained the partial SSN, medical appointment and identification/address information on Veteran B as well as a copy of a blank BioPsychosocial form requesting to be filled out and returned. Veteran A expressed concern over this type of handling and disclosure and returned entire packet to Privacy Officer. The envelope had the return address as mail code 116 (Mental Health). The handwritten address on the envelope was messy with a scribbled correction of the zip code. Update: 05/02/11:Veteran B will receive a letter of notification.
Outcome:
Update - fact finding as conducted by involved personnel within facility showed the following: New Chief for Clinical Service out on leave - delay in response until his return. Upon return and per conducting fact-finding with involved staff determination was made that Clinical Staff did not handle or proceeds or mail-out this type of document. Fact-finding then referred to Chief HAS. Determination made after review with responsible staff that mishandling prior to mail-out resulted in mix-up of forms/addresses and inadvertently placed the letter for Veteran A into the envelope addressed to Veteran B. Chief/Supervisor for responsible staff documented corrective action as follows: responsible clerical staff member, Medical Services Assistant was spoken to and reminded when mailing out letters with sensitive information that must double check correct information is placed in correct envelope. Note that letter of notification to be provided to veteran whose information was mis-mailed to wrong Veteran per NSO-HIPAA letter. Corrective action as documented above updated per SPE/NSOC ticket. J Winstead, Privacy Officer EPVAHCS