More than 500 patients served by Henry County Health Department Home Health and Hospice are being notified after a nurse’s laptop and paperwork was stolen from her garaged car on October 22.
An arrest has reportedly been made in the case, but the laptop and papers were not recovered. According to the Toledo Blade and WNWO, the laptop included such information as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, medical diagnoses, medication lists, and insurance information.
HCHD released this statement to NBC24:
“HCHD has increased security with respect to the laptops that we use and how we handle medical records in the field. While all our laptops utilize a password authentication process we have now encrypted all our laptops to prevent access to laptop files in ways that may circumvent the login process. We have also reviewed and updated our processes and procedures for the handling of laptops and medical records necessary for nurse visitation of patients in their homes.”