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 Southeast Network (VISN 7)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 7, 2012. Also cited in 225 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000082086, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 07 Charleston, SC
Issue:
The Privacy Officer (PO) received an email at 9:51 AM this morning from the Compliance Officer stating that she found documents on a table by the elevator on the second floor of the VAMC at 4:15 PM on 11/02/12. The PO noted that that Veteran had a procedure done that day at about 11:00 AM and was discharged at approximately 2:00 PM. The PO is going to retrieve the documents from the Compliance Officer and go to Ambulatory Surgical Department for additional information. Update: 11/13/12: The PO spoke with the Veteran whose paperwork was left in second floor elevator lobby. The Veteran and his spouse said they did not receive the paperwork. They stated they only received paperwork informing the Veteran of his next appointment. The Veteran stated that he left close to 2:00 PM so approximately two and a half hours passed before our Compliance Officer found the documents. However, his procedure was done on the fourth floor and recovery is on the third floor so the PO has no idea how it ended up on the second floor of the VAMC. Therefore, Veteran A will receive a letter offering credit protection services. NOTE: There were a total of 95 Mis-Handling incidents this reporting period. Because of repetition, the other 94 are not included in this report, but are included in the "Mis-Handling Incidents" count at the end of this report. In all incidents, Veterans will receive a notification letter and/or credit monitoring will be offered if appropriate.
Outcome:
The PO could not prove who left documents in second floor elevator lobby. The Veteran received procedure on the fourth floor and transferred to third floor for observation. His wife was given paperwork pertaining to his upcoming visits but stated that was all she was given. The Veteran was discharged about 2:00 PM which he confirms. The Veteran and his wife never went to the second floor but headed straight home. A Nurse in Ambulatory Surgery stated she always gives the Post Upper Endoscopy Instructions to the patient when they are discharged. Since the spouse had some paperwork, the PO believes all of the documents would have been given at the same time. The PO cannot determine after talking with staff, Veteran, and family member, who left the documents in the second floor elevator lobby.