VA Southeast Network (VISN 7)

Report ID: SPE000000065306, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Reported Entity: VISN 07 Birmingham, AL

Issue:

A patient called to state a Birmingham VA employee gave him the wrong fax number to the VA Regional Office. The number on the paper went to a elementary school in West Virginia. Per the patient, the area code given was "304" instead of "334". The Privacy Officer (PO) has contacted the elementary school. The school's secretary believes the recipient has already shredded the faxed documents, however, she is going to attempt to pull from the shredder. The PO will forward a self-addressed stamped envelope to retrieve the shredded documents. The documents faxed included a letter containing the patient's name, home address, full SSN along with documents to file a claim for disability through the VA. There were six pages total. The patient faxed the document this afternoon and the school contacted the patient directly. The patient then attempted to contact the Birmingham VA who initially provided the fax number, however, the employee was not on station today. The patient then contacted the Privacy Officer to report the incident. Update: 08/02/11:The patient will be sent a letter offering credit protection services, since his full SSN was potentially compromised.

Outcome:

Patient notified facility that an employee gave him the wrong fax number for Montgomery Veteran's Affairs Office. He used the number and his records went to a school in West Virginia. The Privacy Officer has requested the school return the documents, a self-addressed stamped envelope was sent and PO is awaiting the return of the documents. The employee was notified of the incorrect fax number given to the patient. Employee will make corrections to this number. A redacted copy of the credit monitoring letter is attached.

Related Reports:

1 other violation reported on the same date. Note that other citations may be about the same event: SPE000000065279