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.
Northwest Network (VISN 20)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on September 6, 2011. Also cited in 208 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000066489, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 20 Portland, OR
Issue:
A local VA Patient Advocate received a report forwarded from VA Central Office regarding a Veteran A who received a lab results letter for Veteran B with a letter that was sent to him. Veteran B also appears to be an employee at the VA Medical Center. The lab results letter was dated 07/13/11. It is not known when the letter was initially received or when the initial complaint was made to Central Office. The Privacy Officer has not yet been able to contact Veteran A to verify if he had destroyed the letter as he had agreed to when he spoke to the Advocate. Update: 09/06/11:Veteran B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services due to full name and full SSN being exposed.
Outcome:
The office who mis-mailed this information has been instructed by their supervisor to review the contents of outgoing mail to ensure it is being sent to the correct Veteran.