The Associated Press is reporting: The New Hampshire health department mistakenly released 9,300 names and Social Security numbers of Medicare recipients. In letters to clients and service providers obtained by The Associated Press, the department says it is taking steps to make sure no information was used illegally. But the department is urging clients to…
Author: Dissent
TN: Identity thefts linked to St. Francis Hospital
Hank Dudding reports: Federal and local authorities are investigating an identity-theft case that appears to have originated at Saint Francis Hospital and may involve hundreds of victims. U.S. postal inspector Katrina Chalmers confirmed Monday that the postal service is investigating the case, but she wouldn’t release any further details. […] Broadway was reluctant to discuss…
IL: Hospital worker accesses private records
Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn confirms it has fired an employee who improperly accessed private health records. The hospital has sent letters to 350 patients saying the unauthorized former worker looked at records that included addresses and social security numbers. The hospital says there’s no indication that any patient information was used but…
HHS head calls for voluntary e-health privacy guidelines
Bob Brewin reports: The head of the Health and Human Services Department called for the health care industry to develop voluntary guidelines to ensure the privacy of patient-controlled personal health records rather than allow the federal government to mandate rules. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, speaking Monday at the Nationwide Health Information Network Forum in Washington,…
World Privacy Forum urges more clarification and privacy protection regarding "incidental collection" of genetic information in GINA
In comments regarding the recently passed GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act), the World Privacy Forum said that some aspects of GINA need clarification to enhance privacy. The comments focus on a number of privacy issues the RFI raised, including model privacy notices and the issue of what the GINA statute calls “incidental collection” of…
OHSU reports laptop stolen
Oregon Health & Science University is notifying 890 patients that a laptop stolen in Chicago this week may contain their health records. It was stolen from a hotel while an OHSU employee was there on business. […] It said the data could include medical record numbers, names, telephone numbers, dates of birth, gender, medical diagnosis…