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 Great Lakes Health Care System (VISN 12)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 19, 2012. Also cited in 130 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000081412, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 12 Milwaukee, WI
Issue:
Veteran A recently sent in a request to have Veteran A's address changed in our system. The employee who handled this request mistakenly changed Veteran B's address rather than Veteran A's. Veteran A and Veteran B have very similar names. Veteran A then received an appointment letter that should have been sent to Veteran B. The appointment letter only listed the time and the clinic where the appointment was; there was no information concerning any diagnoses or conditions on the letter. The letter did, however, contain the last four digits of Veteran B's SSN. Update: 10/19/12:Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
Supervisor of clerks was made of aware of the incident and is taking appropriate supervisory action, including providing additional training/education to all clerks.