Anne L. Kim writes: The rise of health apps has expanded the opportunities for individuals’ data to be used for research purposes, policy analysis, and so on. But what are the complexities involved with making sure people are “de-identified” from their own data, so their privacy can be protected? At an FTC workshop today on consumer-generated…
Update: Edgewater Medical Center's Old Patient Records Hauled Out, Will Be Shredded
Benjamin Woodard follows up on a situation I noted on this blog in 2013 involving medical records that were abandoned over a decade ago at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago: Demolition crews this week began removing loads of old patient medical records from the vacant Edgewater Medical Center, a month after city inspectors criticized the lack of…
Additional information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City breach
On April 22, I noted that HHS had added a report from Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Kansas City (“Blue KC”), but that I had been unable to find any information on the “unauthorized access/disclosure” breach that reportedly affected 2,546. It turns out that this was an insider breach involving employee wrongdoing. On April…
Additional information on Susquehanna Health breach
On April 22, I noted that Susquehanna Health had notified HHS that 657 patients were affected by a breach on December 5, 2013 involving “Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, E-mail.” I could find no statement on their website at that time. I still can’t find one, but their report to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office provides the missing details. On December…
Back at FTC vs. LabMD
In this week’s developments, the FTC has filed its response/opposition to LabMD’s motion for summary decision. In other matters, the administrative law judge has denied LabMD’s motions in limine to exclude two expert witness’s testimony, noting that such exclusion would be premature and consideration of what should be excluded needs to be decided within the…
NY: Albany Medical Center nurse charged with stealing patient identities
Tim O’Brien reports: A nurse at Albany Medical Center is accused of stealing the identities of patients for at least a year and possibly as many as four, Sheriff Craig Apple said Wednesday evening. She and her live-in boyfriend then used the information to set up credit card accounts and to print fake bank checks, he said. The nurse was…