Meghan Cowan reports: A recent decision dealing with the collection, use and disclosure of employees’ personal information provides a noteworthy lesson for employers when managing sensitive employee medical information. In a December 2013 decision of the Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner, an employee made a complaint under Alberta’s privacy legislation, the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), alleging…
Category: Uncategorized
MY: 46,000 medical images lost by contractor for University Malaya Medical Centre
Annie Freeda Cruez reports: Some 46,000 electronic images of X-rays and scans of patients at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) have been lost during a migration process from the old computer system to a new one. As a result, some patients may be left in the lurch as their old medical information dating back to…
HHS strengthens patients’ right to access lab test reports
As part of an ongoing effort to empower patients to be informed partners with their health care providers, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken action to give patients or a person designated by the patient a means of direct access to the patient’s completed laboratory test reports. “The right to access…
1,800 University of California – Davis Medical Center patients notified of breach after 3 clinicians fall for phishing scheme
The University of California Davis Medical Center has sent out notification letters to patients affected by a breach that occurred in December. In a letter dated January 30, Shara Merritt Reed, Privacy Program Director for the UC Davis Health System, writes that UCDHS recently learned that a medical provider’s email account was compromised by a…
VT: New questions about patient privacy at North Country Hospital
Melissa Howell reports that North Country Hospital in Newport, VT has been embroiled in another privacy breach involving employees. The hospital was in the news in October after a former employee refused to return laptops containing patient information. The employee was subsequently charged with petty larceny and possession of stolen property, but I haven’t seen any…
Facing continued investigation and litigation, LabMD decides to wind down its operations (Updated)
Claiming that the FTC’s lengthy investigation and lawsuit against them has already cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars and seriously damaged their business, the CEO of LabMD announced this week that the Atlanta laboratory is winding down its operations. “The effects of this action will be felt throughout the medical community, from LabMD’s employees…