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.
Veterans In Partnership (VISN 11)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on August 17, 2012. Also cited in 213 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000079307, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 11 Saginaw, MI
Issue:
A VA Physician allowed her spouse to job shadow and then allowed him to access a computer that she was logged into. Update: 08/20/12:The physician is not scheduled for duty until Tuesday Aug 21. Her computer access has been disabled until appropriate remedial action can take place. A Report of Contact has been received from the VA staff that witnessed the event and the Information Security Officer (ISO) has written an Report of Contact (ROC) to record the Rule of Behavior (ROB) violation. The ROC has been given to the employee's supervisor for further action.08/22/12:The spouse was in the Urgent Care Department separate from the exam rooms, but he was in the area where the whiteboard is located. The whiteboard does contain the patients last name and last four of SSN along with the complaint. The physician saw three patients in exam rooms during the event. Therefore three Patients will receive a notification letter
Outcome:
The physician came into work today and she was counseled on the Rules of Behavior by her supervisor. She has taken the Privacy and HIPAA training. The spouse had no access to patient records or confidential information. It was determined that the individual was in an area potentially from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. After a review of the records and appointment lists it was determined that a potential of 9 patients name, last four was exposed. Letters to all 9 patients will be mailed out.The nine notification letters were mailed today.