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 Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on May 18, 2011. Also cited in 369 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000062685, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 08 Orlando, FL
Issue:
Colonoscopy preparation instructions were mailed to the wrong patient. The instructions contained the Veteran's last name, first initial and last 4 digits of the SSN. No other identifiers were in the instruction sheet, nor was any date specified for the patient. When the VA employee opened his mail yesterday, he noticed that someone had hand-printed his name and address on a separate sheet of paper, and folded it to be read through the envelope window--despite a different name appearing on the instruction sheet. The employee delivered the envelope and instructions directly to the Privacy Officer for processing. The Health Administrative Services (HAS) staff is actively trying to determine who prepared the instructions and addressed the envelope. Update: 05/18/11:Veteran A will be sent a notification letter.
Outcome:
Nurse Manager developed an action plan to reinforce to nursing staff at next staff meeting the importance of protecting PHI, being more diligent and careful with documents, and proofreading before mailing out any documents to ensure the right correspondence is mailed to the right patient. Nurse manger will stress to clerks and nursing staff alike that every mail going out needs to be correctly addressed with correct mail code on envelope, plus proper address and name. Manger will continue to monitor compliance within the GI Clinic through periodic checkups of outbound correspondence.