VA Mid South Healthcare Network (VISN 9)

Report ID: SPE000000066991, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 09 Memphis, TN

Issue:

On the morning of 09/21/11 around 7:30 AM, a VA RN staff member discovered that her personal locker located at the Hematology & Oncology outpatient ward had been broken into. She examined the items in the locker and noted that her VA paystub and copies of personnel records had been stolen. The paystub contains her full name, last four of her SSN, grade and step, bank routing number, pay information including her TSP deductions, etc. She stated that the personnel record contains her full name, full SSN, full name and full SSN of her spouse, home address, home telephone number, etc. Further inquiry revealed that VA staff working at this location (Hematology & Oncology) discovered on 09/21/11 around 7:30 AM that a VA laptop used on the BCMA cart was stolen. The laptop was locked to the BCMA cart and is usually kept at the Hematology & Oncology area, which is the same location where the employee locker was broken into. The facility Information Security Officer (ISO) and VA Police are currently doing investigation regarding the theft of the laptop. Update: 09/21/11:Employee A and her spouse will receive a letter offering credit protection services. This is a related incident to ticket SPE 66980

Outcome:

Credit monitoring letters have been mailed to the affected VA staff and her spouse. This case is considered closed as of 10/4/2011. Staff has been advised not to keep personal records containing sensitive information in the lockers, especially for overnight.