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 Mid South Healthcare Network (VISN 9)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on December 10, 2012. Also cited in 328 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000083474, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 09 Mountain Home, TN
Issue:
A Registered Nurse from the nursing home reported that the Quality Improvement data log books are missing. Staff offices have been moved recently and the log books were maintained in different areas. The first floor is missing the log books for the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and the second floor is missing the log books for the years 2006 and 2009. The Privacy Officer (PO) is investigating to see how long the log books should be retained and to determine the exact data that is kept in the log books. Update: 12/12/12:The information that is entered in the log books for each patient includes the last name, SSN, date of birth and health information regarding the patient's wound. All books have been found except for one from 2006. Facility staff have run a report and determined that 76 patients would have information in the 2006 log book.12/18/12:Out of the 76 patients, four were duplicates and 60 were deceased. The 12 living patients will be offered credit protection services, and 60 next-of-kin (NOK) notification letters will be sent.
Outcome:
The credit protection letters and NOK notification letters were placed in the mail. The employee was counseled and the nurse manager reviewed the necessity of maintaining the minimum amount of patient information. She also discontinued the practice of maintaining the patient's information in a log book since the information is placed in the medical record.