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 February 15, 2012. Also cited in 149 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000071838, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 15 Marion, IL
Issue:
On 02/10/12, Veteran A reported that he had received Veteran B's medication to the Poplar Bluff VAMC via a telephone call. The Privacy Officer (PO) at Poplar Bluff notified this writer of this incident, as it occurred secondary to a clerical error made at this facility. Investigation revealed the following: 1) Veteran A is a patient of this facility; Veteran B is a patient at Poplar Bluff VAMC. 2) Both Veterans have the exact name (same first, last, and middle names). 3) Clerk at this facility accidentally entered Veteran A's mailing address into Veteran B's records. 4) When Veteran B's medication was mailed from Consolidated Mail Ooutpatient Pharmacy (CMOP), it was mailed to Veteran A's address (which was listed in his CPRS records). 5) Medication insert received by Veteran A contained the medication dosage information, Veteran B's full SSN, Veteran A's address, and their same name. It did not contain any other identifiable information. 6) Per pharmacy tech at Poplar Bluff, Veteran A will be "destroying the information and the medication". 6) Addresses have been verified and corrected. Update: 02/15/12:Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
Education was provided to clerk, reminding to verify SSN prior to accessing or making edits to demographic information. Request has been made for records to be flagged to alert staff to identical names.