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 Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8)

VISN 08 West Palm Beach, FL

Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on December 6, 2011. Also cited in 369 other reports.


Report ID: SPE000000069350, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 08 West Palm Beach, FL

Issue:

VA Employee reported to the ISO that an i-STAT, which is a handheld blood analyzer, was reported missing from the Lab. Update: 12/07/11:Nine (9) Veterans will be sent letters offering credit protection services due to full SSN being accessible on the missing i-STAT analyzer.

Outcome:

The Lab Service Chief got technical assistance from the i-STAT representative and has validated that there are nine (9) full SSNs displayed in this instrument, dating from 7/21 - 7/29/11. The Service Chief has worked with the representative to set the system to lock the meters so that you can only access old test results if you are an authorized i-STAT user. The system will need to reboot and each meter will have to be docked for this to take effect. The Service Chief has been instructed to delete old data prior to 12/1/11 from every meter this week. Our internal process will be changed and we will continue to delete the information on a regular basis. There were no names displayed on this equipment. But the full SSN of nine patients was visible. Letters offering credit monitoring were mailed to nine (9) Veterans on 12/19/11.

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