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 Healthcare - VISN 4 (VISN 4)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on March 27, 2013. Also cited in 239 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000087285, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 04 Butler, PA
Issue:
On EOC Rounds on 3/27/13, Bldg. 2 was reviewed. In Room 217 of Bldg. 2. A covered folder was located that contained Protected Health Information/Personally Identifiable Information (PHI/PII) information. It was on a desk behind a curtain and on the other side of the curtain, patients could come into that area. At the time of rounds there was one patient on the other side of the curtain. There were no staff around and patients, visitors and others could come into the room that contained the folder freely. Since the folder had probably been there since 3/22/13, the Privacy Officers (POs) have no way to determine who could have seen the PHI/PII in the folder.Five patients had their full name and SSN listedTen patients had Name, Diagnoses, last four of SSN listed, and disability rating listed. Update: 03/27/13:The Five patients that had their full name and SSN listed will receive a letter offering credit protection services.The Nine patients that had Name, Diagnoses, last four of SSN listed, and disability rating listed will receive a notification letter.
Outcome:
The use of the folder that caused this privacy violation has been eliminated. Electronic secured spreadsheet will be used in its place. They will no longer use the location of this privacy incident also. The clinic is moving to a more secure location.