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.
Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (VISN 22)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 28, 2011. Also cited in 129 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000069091, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 22 Las Vegas, NV
Issue:
A Nurse Assistant found a dietary listing with names and date of birth on 32 patients sitting on top of a trash can near a second floor elevator. The listing was found on 11/23/11 and given to the supervisor, however the supervisor failed to notice personally identifiable information thereby failing to report the incident sooner. This incident is under investigation to determine how long the document was out of VA control from the time it was dropped until found. Update: 11/29/11:The 32 Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services.NOTE: There were a total of 17 Mis-Handling incidents this reporting period. Because of repetition, the other 16 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:
A food service worker accidently left the listing on the cart with the food trays for inpatients. By the time of her return for the cart, the listing was lost near the elevators. The listing was left unattended for approximately 2 hours. All food service employees were provided formal Privacy & HIPAA training with signature of completion, including the food worker who dropped the listing. New procedures were put into place, including that the listing is no longer required and will not be taken with the food trays, thereby eliminating this from reoccurrence. The credit protection letters were mailed 11/30/11.