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 January 20, 2011. Also cited in 225 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000057297, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 07 Tuscaloosa, AL
Issue:
Outpatient Pharmacy Service was notified that a Veteran did not receive his medication sent via UPS (United Parcel Service). The Privacy Officer was informed by Outpatient Pharmacy Service that there has been a loss of a patient\xe2\x80\x99s methadone in the United Parcel System (UPS). The medication was filled normally and sent out. The veteran never received his medication so he called Outpatient Pharmacy Service. Per UPS records the package arrived at Location and was oksent out for delivery on 1/14/2011 but is now missing per UPS. UPS has been contacted and they have opened an investigation. The patient\xe2\x80\x99s name, date of birth, name of medication, directions for medication, and address of the veteran. UPS Corporate Security Manager is investigating the missing medication package. Privacy Officer and UPS investigation is ongoing. The VA Police has been informed. Outpatient Pharmacy states that replacement meds have been sent to the veteran. Update: 01/20/11: UPS Delivery Error. However due to DoB being exposed, credit protection services will be offered to the Veteran.
Outcome:
The DOB is no longer on either the batch label or the RX label as a Date of Birth. It is now "masked" as 679-month-day. It would show up 6790102. This will be on BOTH the RX label and removed from the BATCH label when being mailed to the veteran. Credit Monitoring Letterhas been mailed to the veteran.