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.
South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on August 18, 2011. Also cited in 317 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000065888, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 16 Houston, TX
Issue:
A Veteran's wife called to complain that included in correspondence sent to her husband from the Houston VA was a copy of an email to a VA employee from a provider that included 32 Veteran names and full Social Security numbers. She said this was not the first time this had happened but she previously threw the information away. She wanted to report it this time because she knew it was a violation. She was asked to return the information. The information was received but she did not include her name only her return address.. Update: 08/18/11:Thirty Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services due to full name and full SSN being disclosed.
Outcome:
Staff educated to double check work before sending correspondence to Veterans.