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 Heart of Texas Health Care Network (VISN 17)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 29, 2011. Also cited in 122 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000069113, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 17 Temple, TX
Issue:
An employee contacted the Privacy Officer (PO) to report that her father, a patient in a local nursing home, had received medical information belonging to Veteran B in the mail. The employee was contacted by the nursing facility and after her inspection of the information, returned the information to the facility PO. The information belongs to Veteran B who is also a patient at the nursing facility and had been opened by that staff. The information was forwarded in error by this facility's Release of Information office and appears to have an incorrect cover letter. Update: 11/29/11:Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services due to full name and full SSN being exposed.
Outcome:
The ROI employee was neglegent by not reprinting a new disclosure letter. Findings forwarded to Service Chief with instructions to contact HR for corrective action.