Jennifer C. Kerr reports: Sensitive information on about 1,000 patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military hospitals was exposed in a security breach, sparking identity theft concerns and an investigation by the Army. Names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and other information was released, hospital officials said Monday. The computer file that…
Author: Dissent
UK: Secret documents found in street were stolen
Confidential papers which were discovered in a street in Gorleston were stolen during a burglary of an NHS building, police enquiries have revealed. A number of items of post, which included one pack of police referrals to Children’s Services, were stolen from a letter box at the Newberry Clinic in Lowestoft Road following a mail…
Walter Reed says patient data may have been compromised
Officials at Walter Reed Army Medical Center say personal information on about 1,000 patients may have been revealed in a breach of sensitive data. The officials said Monday they learned of the apparent security problem on May 21 from an outside company, which they did not identify. Full story – Chicago Tribune
Senate bill OKs druggists' sharing patient files
Elizabeth Fernandez reports in the San Francisco Chronicle: A bill that would allow pharmacies in California to share patient prescription information with third-party businesses working for drugmakers was approved in the state Senate 21-16 Thursday. Under the legislation, pharmaceutical companies could send mailings directly to patients suffering from illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia….
Ca: Police find stolen computer device containing health records
New Glasgow police say they’ve recovered a computer memory stick containing the personal information of 150 people who used mental-health services in Pictou County. Someone has admitted to stealing the device and trying to destroy it, but no charges are expected, the Pictou County Health Authority said Friday. The health authority said police believe no…
Draft of major health IT bill unveiled in House
Nancy Ferris reports in Government Health IT: Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its health subcommittee have released a draft of a major health information technology bill that has several parallels to the Wired for Health Care Quality bill pending in the Senate. The House bill’s backers are the full committee’s chairman,…