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.
Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 28, 2011. Also cited in 141 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000068144, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 21 Palo Alto, CA
Issue:
An iPhone containing an email with VA sensitive information is missing. The iPhone was not password protected and therefore, the email containing information on 8 patients including: full last name, last four digits of the SSN, and medical conditions may have been compromised. Update: 10/31/11:This was her personal iPhone and not VA issued. She was not authorized to have the patients' information on her iPhone. She deactivated the iPhone once she noticed it was missing. The 8 patients will receive a letter of notification.11/03/11:Two of the patients are deceased. Two next of kin notificaiton letters will be sent.
Outcome:
The phone was immediately deactivated. Notification letters was sent out on November 07, 2011.