Joel Eastwood reports: Patients looking for answers after a string of privacy breaches at GTA hospitals must wait on a lawsuit in Peterborough that could have sweeping implications for all Ontario hospitals. The class action suit against Peterborough Regional Health Centre will determine whether a patient can sue a hospital for invasion of privacy. A similar lawsuit…
Category: Health Data
AltaMed Health Services notifies 2,995 patients whose information accessed by rogue temporary employee for identity theft
As part of its ongoing commitment to privacy and data security, AltaMed Health Services is notifying affected individuals of a recent incident that may affect the security of their personal and protected health information. The organization learned from local law enforcement of an ongoing criminal investigation of a former AltaMed temporary employee, and other individuals…
OCR Fines Are the Least of Your Worries in a HIPAA Related Breach
Art Gross argues that OCR fines should be the least of your worries. Read his comments on EMR & HIPAA. Do you agree?
Virginia federal court holds that online posting of patient medical information constitutes “publication” sufficient to trigger a general liability insurer’s duty to defend
Hunton & Williams write: On August 7, 2014, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia held in Travelers Indemnity Company of America v. Portal Healthcare Solutions, LLC, No. 1:13-cv-917 (E.D. Va. Aug. 7, 2014), that online posting of patient medical information constituted “publication,” whether or not it was viewed by a third…
FTC Approves Final Order in Case Against GMR Transcription Services
A follow-up on a breach case previously reported on this site. From the FTC: Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order resolving FTC allegations that GMR Transcription Services, Inc., engaged in deceptive and unfair information security practices that exposed the personal information of thousands of consumers online, in…
Many HHS investigations still open years later?
If you’re hoping that HHS will do anything about the recent Community Health Systems breach affecting 4.5 million patients across the country, don’t hold your breath. Not only is the incident not even up yet on HHS’s public breach tool, where it will become the second largest breach since such public reporting went into effect…