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 Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on June 8, 2011. Also cited in 183 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000063433, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 23 St. Cloud, MN
Issue:
Veteran A contacted a pharmacy employee to report that he received Veteran B's refill slip in the package he had received in the mail from the pharmacy. The refill slip contained Veteran B's name, address and medication information. The pharmacy employee apologized to Veteran A for the error. The pharmacy employee then called Veteran B to advise him that his personal information had been inappropriately shared with another Veteran. The pharmacy employee did not report this to the Privacy Officer (PO). Today the PO received a notification from the Patient Advocate's Office that Veteran A had contacted them to express his concern about the lack of response from our facility to what he felt was a very serious situation. The Patient Advocate obtained the information regarding the incident from Veteran A and sent it to the PO for review and action. Update: 06/08/11:Veteran B will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
A notification letter has been sent to the Veteran and the pharmacy employee was counseled on the importance of accurately handling refill slips.