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 December 28, 2011. Also cited in 228 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000070131, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 18 Tucson, AZ
Issue:
A supervisor suspected that one of her employees was going into her co-workers medical records and requested the Privacy Officer (PO) to check out the access records for these employees. An employees name appeared on several of the access reports. There was no documentation in the records to indicate this employee was involved in the direct care of her co-workers. Today the employee, supervisor, and union representative met with the PO to discuss this issue. The employee said she was in the records of only two of her co-workers to obtain birthdates but her name appeared in 5 co-workers records; some on more than one occasion. Update: 12/29/11:Eight (8) Employees will be sent letters offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
All employees requested and were provided with a copy of their access report for review. The employee who accessed the records received disciplinary action. All of the staff received remedial training.