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.
Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on June 20, 2012. Also cited in 141 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000076941, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 21 Palo Alto, CA
Issue:
A VA Provider asked a nurse to contact a patient to reschedule his next appointment. The nurse called and left a message on the patients answering machine. The information left on the answering machine was the type of lab work, x-ray, MRI, and VA appointment location. In additional, she called the patients daughter and relayed the same details without patients authorization. Chief Nurse and HR were contacted for appropriate actions. The nurse involved will be retraining on the Privacy Policy. Update: 06/21/12:This is a HIPAA violation therefore, Patient A will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
Notification letter sent out on 06/22/2012. Chief Nurse and HR were contacted for appropriate actions. The nurse involved will be retraining on the Privacy Policy.