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 April 30, 2013. Also cited in 225 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000088658, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 07 Birmingham, AL
Issue:
Veteran A presented to the Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer explaining he received an appointment reminder for himself, but the envelope also contained an appointment reminder for Veteran B. The appointment reminder contained the full name and address of the Veteran B. The BVAMC Privacy Officer kept the appointment reminder which should have been sent to Veteran B. Update: 04/30/13:Veteran B will be sent a HIPAA notification letter due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed.05/16/13:This was determined to be HITECH reportable by VHA Privacy Office.
Outcome:
Birmingham VA Medical Center (BVAMC) Privacy Officer (PO) contacted the service and requested the Administrative Officer (AO) of the service to determine the responsible clerk(s) and require him/her to re-take the HIPAA/Privacy Training and provide certification of completion to the PO. Additionally, the BVAMC Acting Associate Director sent a memo to all BVAMC Service Chiefs requiring an action plan be submitted no later than May 8, 2013 addressing the service's plan for protecting patient health information.