We’re finding out about some healthcare sector breaches from state attorneys general sooner than from HHS, it seems. Sometime during the weekend of September 14 – 15, a laptop with unencrypted patient information was stolen from the Audiology Department at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The theft was discovered on September 16. The laptop, which…
Category: Health Data
Details emerge on Holy Cross Hospital breach
Last week, we noted that Holy Cross Hospital in Florida was notifying 9,900 patients that an employee had stolen their information – possibly for a tax refund fraud scheme. A letter to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office provides some additional details on the breach that makes the tax refund fraud scheme more probable, and not just…
OH: Psychologist office robbery leads to risk of identity theft
LimaOhio.com reports: The office of clinical psychologist Dr. Carol L. Patrick is alerting clients of the possibility of identity theft as a result of an Aug. 8 robbery. All working computers in the office were stolen, with the possible intention of gaining personal information of clients. According to the office, all client information regarding names,…
NY: Guards allege privacy breach related to Samaritan Hospital records
Brendan J. Lyons reports an update to a breach allegation noted previously on this blog involving Samaritan Hospital and Rensselaer County jail personnel: Two correction officers have filed a federal lawsuit accusing Rensselaer County jail officials, including Sheriff Jack Mahar, of illegally accessing their medical records after they missed work due to injuries or illness. A third plaintiff…
Was employee terminated for whistleblowing or privacy breach?
A nurse practitioner claimed she was wrongfully terminated after lodging an internal whistleblower complaint. However, her former employer said she violated privacy policies. hr.blr.com has a write-up of Worley v. Providence Physician Services, Co., Court of Appeals of the State of Washington, Division Three, No. 30950-9-III (7/23/13).
FL: Holy Cross Hospital patient records breached, possibly for tax refund fraud scheme
Brian Bandell reports: Holy Cross Hospital notified 9,900 of its patients that their personal information might have been breached by an employee who may have intended to commit tax fraud. Patient names, dates of birth, addresses and social security numbers were inappropriately accessed by an employee who has since been terminated, the nonprofit hospital said. This…