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 Heartland Network (VISN 15)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on August 18, 2011. Also cited in 149 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000065896, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 15 Marion, IL
Issue:
Veteran A reported that he had received Veteran B's medical records. An initial investigation revealed that Veteran A had initiated a release of information (ROI) request on August 12, 2011, for his most recent audiology report. On August 18, 2011, he opened an envelope from this facility, which contained Veteran B's records. He stated he would be returning Veteran B's records in today's mail, via US Postal Service. The ROI supervisor was notified of the error and assisted with the initial investigation. It appears the error may have been caused by a software issue, as Veteran B did not have an open ROI request. Update: 08/18/11:Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services due to full name, date of birth and full SSN being disclosed.
Outcome:
Investigation revealed that the issue was a result of a software issue. OI&T staff are working to resolve the issue. Staff were reminded to double-check cover letter and responsive documents to lessen the likelihood of future incidents.