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.
Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (VISN 22)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on March 8, 2012. Also cited in 129 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000072646, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 22 Los Angeles, CA
Issue:
A deceased Veteran's daughter and Power of Attorney (POA) gave a private residential care home a non-compliant authorization to use to communicate with the VA Greater LA Healthcare System (GLA) for medical issues such as prescriptions and treatments information which the facility has been doing. The residential care home sent this HIPAA non-compliant authorization to the release of information department and the facility released medical records to the private residential care home where the Veteran died. Update: 11/26/12:An unauthorized disclosure was made to the nursing home. A letter of notification has been sent.
Outcome:
A response letter and an accounting of disclosure will be mailed to the daughter today as she has requested. The staff at the facility has received a formal training by the release of information supervisor to ensure that this mistake does not happen in future releases by release on information staff. The notification letter is attached. 12-12-12