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 Health Care Upstate New York (VISN 2)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on March 11, 2011. Also cited in 132 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000059470, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 02 Syracuse, NY
Issue:
A VA Specialty Clinic reported that Patient A received Patient B's appointment letter when receiving his own appointment letter in the mail. Patient A returned the letter to the Specialty Clinic and another letter was sent to Patient B. The issue was reviewed by the Mail Room Supervisor as the the mail room staff are responsible for processing outgoing appointment reminder letters. All letters are folded and inserted in the automated equipment in the mail room. He attributes the error to the appointment letter staying adhered to another letter and stuffed in the same envelope which occurs on a rare occasion with the equipment and was not caught by the mail room staff. The mail room is in the process of procuring new software that will completely automate this process and avoid these equipment and manual errors. Update: 03/11/11:Veteran B will receive a notification letter.
Outcome:
The AO for Urology has educated the Urology Secretary of the requirement to confirm the patient's identity before placing it in the envelope to ensure accuracy when mailing and avoid future errors.