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 Southeast Network (VISN 7)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on March 21, 2013. Also cited in 225 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000087086, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 07 Columbia, SC
Issue:
A Dorn VA Medical Center Nurse Practitioner working within the surgery service, contacted the Privacy Officer to report a theft. Employee A changed her space by moving to 3 South in room # 3A184 with another employee one week ago. She now shares a locked office with another employee that is also working a rotating schedule. According to employee A, when she arrived to work on Tuesday March 15, her office door was locked. She unlocked her office door with her key. Employee A soon walked out of her office, and pulled the door closed behind her. When she returned from clinic that afternoon, her coworker was in the office. The co-worker informed her that someone found your car keys in the elevator and gave me a telephone number asking that you call them. Employee A said "I looked in my top drawer for anything else that may be missing." A personal card and envelope were gone. The card contained the employees name and address, as well as the name and address of the sender who is a Veteran. She then discovered that a stack of papers with 3 personnel Focused Professional Practice Evaluation Case Sheets belonging to the Surgery Service was missing. The evaluations containing 10 face sheets with approximately 30 to 34 Veteran full names, last four, the dates of admission, and chart review information is missing. The information disclosed: Full name, full social security number, and Personal Identifiable Information. When: The employee discovered the documents went missing on 3/15/2013. Update: 03/22/13:Letters will be sent to 34 Veterans offering credit protection services.05/28/13:This was determined to be HITECH reportable by VHA Privacy Office.
Outcome:
All Veteran were offered Credit Monitoring. The Employee's provided education on the need to safeguard and secure all Veteran's PHI.