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 Health Care Upstate New York (VISN 2)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on September 6, 2011. Also cited in 132 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000066459, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 02 Syracuse, NY
Issue:
An ER Nurse Manager reported to the Privacy Officer that Patient A received his discharge instructions this morning from his ER physician that had Patient B's identification label on it in error. The identification label had Patient B's full name, full SSN, and date of birth on it. Per the ER physician who reported the error, the discharge instructions were correct for Patient A, but Patient B's label was taken and applied to Patient A's discharge instruction form in error. Update: 09/06/11:Patient B will be sent a letter offering credit protection services due to full name, full SSN and DoB being exposed.
Outcome:
Emergency Room attending physician educated ER provider on requirement to confirm patient identifiers before placing label on discharge instruction sheet.