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 New England Healthcare System (VISN 1)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on July 25, 2011. Also cited in 204 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000065020, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 01 Bedford, MA
Issue:
A researcher lost an informed consent document that included full name, full SSN, and medical information. Update: 07/25/11:The Veteran will be sent a letter offering credit protection services.NOTE: There were a total of 22 Mis-Handling incidents this reporting period. Because of repetition the other 21 are not included in this report, but is 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:
PO states the researcher was re-educated on the importance of protecting PHI/PII. Primary Investigator (PI) has files in a locked room in a locked cabinet. This NSOC ticket was for the following- a research investigator was found to have lost an informed consent document during an office move within the VA. The Veteran was provided credit monitoring. I verbally provided the investigator training on the requirements for securely maintaining research documents (file is now in a locked cabinet in locked office) and made her aware that the location and maintenance of the protocol's documents must be as per the approved protocol.