VA Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)

Report ID: PSETS0000087226, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 18 Phoenix, AZ

Issue:

Today, 3/26/2013, the Privacy Officer (PO) was notified by a Service Chief that an employee in their department had accessed a recently deceased employee's chart without authorization. A report of staff access had been previously provided to Senior Management who initiated further investigation of appropriate chart access. Based on this inquiry, staff told her Chief today of her unauthorized access. Other staff access is also being investigated. Authorized access by staff into this chart may have included all data fields in VISTA Patient Prescription and CPRS. Additional reports of access are pending and future scheduled. Further notification and investigation, pending. Update: 03/26/13:Veteran A's Next of Kin will be sent a NOK notification letter.04/02/13:The staff who accessed the chart did so because she knew the deceased casually through a mutual acquaintance and would say "hello" in the hallway when passing. She was curious but after viewing the chart, did not print materials accessed and indicates she did not speak to anyone about his medical conditions in his chart. Other SPARs have been requested by HR to include in this investigation. FU of additional access inquiries, pending.04/05/13:At this time, the investigation and HR review of this case is completed. However, due to the likelihood of additional staff review in the SPAR, the ticket remains open.

Outcome:

NA