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 October 23, 2012. Also cited in 225 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000081508, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 07 Decatur, GA
Issue:
Privacy Officer was called by the wife of an inpatient stating that a family friend who was visiting the patient in the hospital that day was handed a letter by a resident and asked to give the letter to the Patient's son. The resident stated that the son had requested the letter for work leave to visit his father.The wife complained due to she has the Power of Attorney (POA) and was not informed that staff was disclosing her husband's sensitive information. She stated no staff contacted her (lives in South Carolina) for authorization. The family friend informed the wife that she opened the letter and saw that it included the full name and full SSN of the patient. The family friend did not see the son before she left the room so she left the letter on a table in the room. No one has been able to identify what happened to the letter, son did not leave phone number, no copy of letter was made by resident. Update: 10/23/12:The Veteran will be sent a letter offering credit protection services due to full name and full SSN being exposed.
Outcome:
Provider Team Lead has discussed with all Residents on importance of privacy and confidentiality of patient information, Resident required to retake Privacy Trng and certs will be sent to PO. All staff have been made aware of disclosure policy. All parties involved have been verbally counseled. Son confirmed he received the ltr.