Author: Dissent

Nick Heath of silicon.com reports: NHS trusts will not have completed encrypting patients’ personal data held on their computers until later this year. A number of health trusts are expected to be months late in meeting a target to encrypt all data on non-secure machines by 31 March, 2008. Full story – ZDNet Thanks to…

Cindy George of the Houston Chronicle reports on a hacking case that thankfully did not result in an interruption of patient care: The fired technology director of a Houston organ donation company has been accused of hacking into its computer system and deleting records. A federal indictment alleges that over two days in November 2005,…

Gary V. Murry of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette staff reports: A Sutton woman will undergo a psychological evaluation after admitting in court yesterday that she used personal information from a cancer patient’s stolen medical records to buy about $2,500 worth of collectible coins from a home shopping network. Charlotte A. Boehm, 55, formerly of…

There’s still no trace of purloined tapes containing backup copies of billing records from University Hospital that stretch back 16 years, but individual patients are beginning to receive letters telling them of the theft and what they can do. The U. has winnowed the list — once believed to contain 2.2 million people — down…

  The Markle Foundation has published a research brief based on a survey conducted among 1,580 American adults (18+) nationwide during the period of May 13-22, 2008. Among the findings: High perception of value: Regardless of their interest in using an online PHR service, 79 percent or more of the public believe using an online…

WNBC reports: Sen. Charles Schumer said the government is risking seniors’ financial information by putting their full Social Security numbers on their Medicare cards. He said Medicare is facilitating identity theft and he’s pushing a bill that would spend $500 million to issue new cards without the numbers. Is the problem that the numbers are…