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.
New Mexico VA Health Care System
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 9, 2014. Also cited in 43 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000110260, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: NEW MEXICO HCS - 501
Issue:
Manager in Pharmacy reported to the facility Privacy Officer that incorrect medication was received by the spouse of a Veteran currently in hospital. The wife returned the medication which had been mis-mailed to the Pharmacy.
Outcome:
10/09/14: The Incident Resolution Service Team has determined that Veteran B will be sent a HIPAA notification letter due to Protected Health Information (PHI) being disclosed. 02/11/15 Update to ticket - Fact finding by manager for Pharmacy Services conducted and findings documented as follows: 1)Patient A prescription was originally filled for window pick-up on 9/25 . Veteran B had prescription filled on 9/26 for window pick-up. On 10/2 both were rebatched to mail by a technician since they were not picked up. They were bagged by our volunteers and sent to the mailroom. Our volunteers only handle one bag of meds at a time and verify by initial that the contents match the outside label. Veteran B's daughter (not spouse) brought in the incorrect medication to the pharmacy over the weekend of Oct 4-5 and gave it to a male person from the pharmacy. None of the outpatient staff (only one male that weekend) remembered the incident. The inpatient staff work 7 on and 7 off and wont be back on duty until Thursday night. One of the staff stated that usually returns are put into the bins for destruction unfortunately for the fact-finding, Guaranteed Returns came and picked-up all items in the bin last week prior to my learning of this possible item in the bin. The recycle of sensitive materials is picked up on Tuesdays so the package was not located. On Oct 8th Pharmacy Tech was made aware of the need to send a new fill to Veteran A to replace the one he did not receive this was done via UPS overnight on Oct 8. Information on prescriptions includes: full name of Veteran and mailing address along with name of medication and name of prescribing provider. Note that incorrect medication returned to Pharmacy per Veteran statement/verification; other medication not found and was refilled and sent UPS; verified receipt. Requesting update per this ticket - as notice received dated October 9, 2014 - PSETS0000110260 does not meet the criteria for a data breach and does not require any Notifications.