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 Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on January 17, 2012. Also cited in 228 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000070754, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 18 Tucson, AZ
Issue:
Several medication bottles came loose during a UPS shipment. The bottles were scuffed up but the labels were readable. The patients names, medication name, and last four digits of the SSN were on the bottles. This affected 2 Veterans. Update: 01/17/12:Two Veterans will be sent a notification letter due to protected heakth information (PHI) being exposed.04/17/12:An appeal was filed stating that notification should not be required because the name and last four was all that was compromised. The DBCT reviewed and denied the appeal because the medications were also compromised. Notification is still required.
Outcome:
We have spoken to the contractor and staff about ensuring prescriptions are secured in packaging when transported. Packaging has been modified and made stronger to lessen the occurance of this type of problem.