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 Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on January 21, 2011. Also cited in 187 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000057387, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 06 Asheville, NC
Issue:
On 1/19/11, an HBPC NP, PharmD and a pharmacy student were making joint visits to HBPC patient homes. The PharmD brought paperwork for two patients with the intention of having the student review notes during the car ride so specific issues could be discussed with the patients. When the team arrived at the 1st patient's home, the NP saw the documentation and assumed it was for the first patient and scooped it up. She placed it with the paperwork she had for the first patient inside the bag and zipped it up. She did not look thru the documentation that she handed to the first patient. When the team left to go to the second patient's home, it was quickly determined that the paperwork was with the first patient. They returned to the first patient's home and retrieved the paperwork but in the time between their return, the first patient had already discovered that he had documentation belonging to another patient and notified the HBPC PSA. Update: 01/22/11:Patient will receive a letter of notification since his full name and medication information was exposed.
Outcome:
Manager has taken immediate action and has reviewed policies and procedures with staff involved.