ohn Commins reports: A maintenance man at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA, was arrested after he allegedly confessed to using “peepholes” to spy on female employees in a rest room. The suspect, John David Elias, 55, also allegedly admitted that he discovered, stole, and unsuccessfully attempted to destroy a hidden surveillance camera that was…
Category: Health Data
How to Prevent Top Three Health Information Breaches
Dom Nicastro writes: Major breaches of patient information in 2009 break down into three types: snoopers, hackers, and those involving large quantities of data. So let’s examine the top breaches from the past year and find out what facilities can do to prevent similar problems. Read more on HealthLeadersMedia.com
Medical/Healthcare Privacy and Fraud Outlook for 2010
Eduard F. Goodman, J.D., LL.M., CIPP writes: You may not be aware of this, but medical-related fraud and identity theft are growing problems in America. With the exploding cost of healthcare, increasing bureaucratic administrative healthcare systems, and a large, aging Baby Boomer population requiring increased medical care, it would seem that we are entering into…
Mass. Eye and Ear Alerts Patients to Data Breach
On Nov. 30, 2009 the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary discovered that a patient’s credit card had been inappropriately used on Nov. 11 and 12 by a Mass. Eye and Ear employee. Mass. Eye and Ear conducted an investigation and determined that two employees were involved, both of whom were terminated. We reported this situation…
FL: Two DCF employees and third woman charged with defrauding Palm Beach dementia patient
Eliot Kleinberg reports: Two Department of Children and Families employees and a third woman systematically drained $20,000 from the bank account of a woman who was suffering from dementia, going so far as to pose as her should financial institutions call to verify a withdrawal, Palm Beach police alleged today. The thefts occurred while the…
Providence Health Plans glitch exposes personal data
Mike Benner and KGW.com Staff report: PORTLAND, Ore. — Providence Health Plans is re-issuing thousands of insurance cards after personal information was accidentally sent to the wrong policy-holders. Officials with Providence Health Plans say about 4,500 mailings were sent out with the incorrect group and member ID numbers, meaning that some policy holders received others’…