Memorial Hospital (University of Colorado Health) issued the following statement on November 6:
Memorial Hospital has discovered that laboratory reports containing a certain amount of health information for 6,400 patients are missing. The laboratory reports are used for processing billing and charges for laboratory services, not for clinical care.
There is no evidence the missing records have been disclosed to or used by unauthorized individuals.
The reports cover lab work done between May 1, 2012 and Aug. 31, 2012. The missing reports contain the patient’s name, Memorial internal account numbers (these were not credit card numbers), dates and the type of lab work that was completed. Results from the lab work were not part of the missing reports. Also, demographic information and Social Security Numbers were not contained in the missing lab reports, making the risk of identity theft low.
Upon discovering that the reports were lost, Memorial conducted an immediate and thorough investigation. Investigators, however, have been unable to determine how the records were lost or what became of them. The information contained in the reports remains available in the patients’ electronic medical records for purposes of medical care and treatment.
Protecting health information is core to our mission of providing the highest quality health care, and something Memorial takes very seriously.
“Patients entrust us with their private information, and we take the responsibility to protect patient information very seriously. We will use this as an opportunity to look for additional ways to better secure patient records. We deeply regret this error,” said Mike Scialdone, Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hospital.
Patients who have concerns related to this incident are asked to call 1-866-283-9930