Sean Hao reports: The state has temporarily taken down two procurement-related Web sites following a security breach that exposed the user names and passwords of hundreds of state and county employees. State Comptroller Russ Saito said the Web sites were hacked earlier this week by someone in Romania. No financial information was compromised and it…
Author: Dissent
4 accused of ID theft plot with 125 victims
Erica Blake reports: As part of their employment with various Toledo-area businesses, Robert L. Taylor, Adam R. Shank, and Dominique L. Lawson had access to clients’ names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. But instead of keeping the information confidential, the three allegedly sold the identities – more than 125 of…
A dozen here, a dozen there…
I was reading an ID theft news story, and noted that one of those allegedly involved in the ring was an employee of an unnamed physician’s office. It’s not the kind of story that makes big news in terms of numbers, but represents a real risk for physicians and health care professionals with small offices,…
UT Southwestern employee accused of selling patient information
Shon Gables reports: Authorities arrested an employee at UT [University of Texas] Southwestern Medical Center after she allegedly stole patent information and possibly their identities. Hundreds of patients’ personal information – including birth dates, addresses, phone numbers and financial data – was stolen before Tracy Renay Thomas’ arrest and termination, police said. Thomas is accused…
Major deficiencies in VCHA's Primary Access Regional Information System – report
The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia has released its review of the electronic health information system set up by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority known as the Primary Access Regional Information System (PARIS). From the Executive Summary: The electronic health record system at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (“VCH”) known as…
Kaiser official defends security practices for veterans health data
Alice Lipowicz reports: In the last several days, I have read a news article and a blog post that raise questions about Kaiser Permanente’s privacy and security policies regarding the medical records of its patients — including the records of about 450 veterans participating in a Kaiser/Veterans Affairs Department health data exchange pilot program in…