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 Southwest Health Care Network (VISN 18)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 28, 2012. Also cited in 228 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000082944, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 18 Phoenix, AZ
Issue:
On 11/28/12, the Pharmacy Supervisor reported to the Privacy Officer (PO) that Veteran B had received three medications and accompanying educational materials for Veteran A. All three medications were non-controlled. This occurred today at the Outpatient Pharmacy window during an in-person medication pickup. Veteran B is returning medications and his medications are being refilled. Veteran A has been contacted. His medications were reprocessed and will be shipped via UPS tomorrow. Veteran A's name and medication information was disclosed. Recovery of the Protected Health Information (PHI) will be provided to PO. Initial root cause: failure to follow patient identifier protocol. Update: 11/29/12:Veteran A will receive a HIPAA letter of notification.
Outcome:
Medications were recovered and reissued. Root cause: Staff not following high quality Pharmacy Veteran identity verification protocols. Re-education and appropriate disciplinary actions in progress. HIPAA notification letter sent to Veteran. Investigation concluded.