Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)

Report ID: SPE000000066997, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 21 Martinez, CA

Issue:

Beneficiary Travel Vouchers were reported missing from the Redding Outpatient Clinic. The VA Police were informed of the missing vouchers on 09/07/11. They conducted a search of the facility to include dumpsters, shred boxes and offices, and was unable to locate the missing vouchers. The Police concluded their investigation on 09/13/11. The vouchers contained 23 Veterans' names, addresses, and full SSNs. Update: 09/21/11:Twenty-three (23) Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services.11/08/11:An appeal was filed. The DBCT reviewed and denied the appeal. The DBCT recommended sending credit protection letters to all 85 Veterans who received Travel Vouchers that day. The 85 Veterans will receive letters offering credit protection services.11/21/11:The list that was provided to the Privacy Officer (PO) had many names scratched out, and the supervisor said that those vouchers were processed and forwarded to the fiscal department by employee A and are not involved in this missing vouchers. Employee B also processed vouchers and maintained an excel spreadsheet of the ones she forwarded to fiscal service and those names were crossed off the list as well. Thus the 25 names that were not crossed off the original list are the ones they assume are missing. The 25 Veterans will receive a letter offering credit protection services.

Outcome:

Trained staff on ensuring accountability for III that is mailed within the facility to ensure it is received and accounted for