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 Healthcare - VISN 4 (VISN 4)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on July 23, 2012. Also cited in 239 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000078146, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 04 Lebanon, PA
Issue:
A patient was brought up from the ward to inpatient surgical unit for a surgical procedure on 7-20-12. The inpatient chart was sent with the patient to the surgical unit but when the Veteran returned to the designated ward unit, the paper record was missing. Search was completed and a nursing incident report completed. Nursing staff assume paper record was discarded in red contamination bag and destroyed. Update: 07/23/12:The Veteran will be sent a letter offering credit protection services, since it cannot be determined exactly when the paper records were lost. They contained the Veteran's name, full SSN and other medical information.
Outcome:
Staff was reminded on the importance of safeguarding personal patient information.