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 Health Care Upstate New York (VISN 2)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on December 7, 2011. Also cited in 132 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000069384, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 02 Syracuse, NY
Issue:
Upon review of medical record requests where information was withheld requring entry in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) FOIAxpress system,the Health Information Management Service (HIMS) Supervisor discovered that a Release Of Information (ROI) clerk had inappropriately released substance abuse information from a patient's record to his non-VA provider without a HIPAA compliant authorization. Update: 12/07/11:Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
The ROI Clerk was re-educated on the proper procedure to process requests for medical records that include substance abuse information. A request for disciplinary action in the form of a reprimand was also processed through Human Resources and is in process.