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.
South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 26, 2011. Also cited in 317 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000068036, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 16 Muskogee, OK
Issue:
A VA Social Work Provider is in the same faith group with a Veteran according to a report from another Social Worker. The Social Work Provider announced in a open group forum (15 people) that he was treating the Veteran. The Veteran's spouse was approached at Wal-Mart by a friend who said that the same VA Social Work Provider told that the Veteran/husband had diabetes. The Veteran's spouse was told by the VA Provider that Veteran did not qualify as needing the caregiver assistance program and the spouse was looking for a check. Update: 10/26/11:According to the Privacy Officer (PO), the service chief is waiting for further correspondence from the Veteran and his wife who originally identified the issue. He will be informing the employee's supervisor that there will be an investigation into this complaint. The supervisor is to meet with the employee and issue written counseling regarding this event and advised that further consequences may occur based upon the decisions made by the Veteran and his wife.10/31/11:Veteran a will receive a notification letter.
Outcome:
Employee received written counseling.