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 August 24, 2012. Also cited in 122 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000079544, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 17 Dallas, TX
Issue:
A nursing station secretary received a call from a clerk in the VA Sleep Lab (name unknown) who stated: "Tell Employee/Patient A that his sleep study is scheduled for Saturday." Employee/Patient A is a Veteran and receives his care here at North Texas VA. The nursing station secretary informed a nurse who reported the incident to the Information Security Officer (ISO).The Sleep Lab was attempting to get the message to Employee/Pateint A about his appointment. After not getting him by personal phone, the work number was called. The clerk said that Employee/Patient A did not specifically tell her to call the work number. The Sleep Lab clerk said that when the secretary answering the phone said that Employee/Patient A would be gone for several hours to a training class, she left the message since she did not want him to miss his appointment. Update: 08/24/12:Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.09/11/12:This was appealed, but the appeal was denied.
Outcome:
The Privacy Officer conducted an in-service to re-educate Staff on the proper disclosures of patient and/or other sensitive information. All staff were reminded of the proper disclosures of patient, or other sensitive information. A notification letter was sent to Veteran by the Privacy Officer.