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 South Healthcare Network (VISN 9)

VISN 09 Mountain Home, TN

Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on February 23, 2012. Also cited in 328 other reports.


Report ID: SPE000000072102, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 09 Mountain Home, TN

Issue:

Veteran A requested a copy of his medical records. The Release of Information (ROI) clerk filled the request and the accounting of disclosure shows that 14 specific items of progress notes, and xray reports were released to the right patient and the right address. The patient presented today with the cover letter that was addressed to his father's name and the requesting Veteran's address. The father retrieved the information from the Veteran's mail and has allegedly shared it with his personal attorney. The father returned the documents to the son the following day. Update: 02/24/12:Due to the fact the father would know his son's PII Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.

Outcome:

Information Resource Management filed OI&T remedy ticket regarding this glitch the ROIDSS software occasionally puts the wrong name on the address of the cover-letter. All ROI clerks have been reminded to review all documents to insure that the information belongs to the requestor and is being provided accurately. Everything that we looked at in the DSSROI package LOOKED correct. But when the cover letter was printed it printed the Veterans fathers name with the Veterans address. We had conference call with DSSROI and the next update should correct this. All ROI clerks are watching every piece of communications that is generated by this software.

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