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.
Northwest Network (VISN 20)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on July 11, 2012. Also cited in 208 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000077698, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 20 Seattle, WA
Issue:
Patient A received his own discharge instructions, but with the patient identification sticker for Patient B. The patient ID sticker has full name, full SSN, full DoB. Update: 07/11/12:Patient B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.
Outcome:
Nurse responsible for the mis-handling of the patient identification label has been retrained on the proper procedures for discharging patients. Clerks are responsible for this function, so as to ensure that minor errors such as this one does not occur by staff unfamiliar with the discharge process.