Here’s today’s reminder of the insider threat. It’s a shame they don’t explain how the employee was able to access the patient’s information or why it was accessed. From the U.S.A.O. of the Western District of Michigan:
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Jessica Nicole Pitcher, 41, of Shelbyville, Michigan, was charged by misdemeanor information with unlawfully accessing health information pertaining to a patient of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs without authorization, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 1320d-6(a)(2).
“Patients have an absolute expectation of privacy concerning the communications and information shared with medical professionals and contained within their medical records,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Federal law has long protected such privacy to ensure that patients, without fear of any disclosure, can share with their medical providers all information critical to receiving proper medical care. My office will hold accountable those who access or disclose confidential patient health information without authorization and without justification under federal law.”
According to court documents, Pitcher is a nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The misdemeanor information charges that on or about November 27, 2023, without authority, she unlawfully accessed and obtained protected health information of a patient at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Battle Creek, Michigan.
If convicted, Pitcher faces a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.00.
“Protecting patient privacy is paramount to the VA Office of Inspector General,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs OIG’s Central Field Office. “Unlawfully accessing patient records erodes trust in VA’s programs and services. The VA OIG will diligently investigate any employee who violates this trust.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is investigating this case with the assistance of the Battle Creek VA Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella.
The charges in a misdemeanor information are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Updated November 26, 2024
So I have to go to the El Paso VA to get medical treatment for my cancer. For 3 years now I have received no treatment and I had to go out and pay for medical insurance out of my pocket because of the incompetency of the El Paso VA medical system. Yeah everyone there hacks into my account and knows everything about me including where I was born. My rating and my denied compensation benefits. So let me tell you something VA employees are the scum bucket of all federal employees and they hack into their patients accounts. I think they do it just to pass the time and to check about their patience. It’s been going on ever since the day of computer. All rank and file veterans know that only veterans who know someone related to someone or a neighbor to someone at the VA receive compensation. Since I come from California no one from Texas will ever approve my disability compensation. This is obvious as the nose on your face yet the VA denies and lies about what really happens… Va’s junk!
VA work place intolerable, Veterans in charge , big mistake, incompetence and dishonesty, hire and promote friends, these are the same worthless vets who served. Major cleanup required.
I’ve had a Dr. In mental health tell the obgyn that he he made me uncomfortable. He put his fat belly on me and said I heard you’ve been saying bad things about me. If that isn’t a breach of ethics I don’t know what is. And the VA has done nothing for 15 years. I’m still angry. And they wonder why I tried to kill myself.