Joe Eaton reports: As the federal government prepares to spend up to $27 billion in stimulus funds to promote electronic medical records, a health technology industry survey suggests that a number of hospitals, health clinics, and insurance firms are violating federal security rules on patient data and putting sensitive health information at risk. The November…
‘Loose Lips’ Can Get HIPAA Covered Entities in Trouble, Now That Verbal Gaffes Must be Reported to HHS
Reprinted from REPORT ON PATIENT PRIVACY, the industry’s most practical source of news on HIPAA patient privacy provisions. The caseworker probably thought she was doing the right thing by sharing with the patient’s daughter that the woman had become increasingly paranoid. But when the daughter confronted the mother with knowledge of her decline, the mother…
UK: Social work records found in second-hand filing cabinet
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Lancashire County Council in breach of the Data Protection Act after social work records containing sensitive personal data relating to several individuals were found in a filing cabinet purchased second-hand by a member of the public. The records were duplicates of documents held in the council’s offices and…
(Follow-up) Beach nurse gets 2 years for identity theft from patients
Tim McGlone reports: Calling the crime “very disturbing,” a federal judge sentenced a nurse to two years in prison after she admitted stealing the identities of several patients, some suffering from dementia, and then going on a $14,000 shopping spree. Erica S. Fowler, 27, of Virginia Beach, said nothing before U.S. District Judge Robert G….
CAPAPA celebrates Data Privacy Day across Canada – Mark Your Calendars
In addition to all the events previously listed for Data Privacy Day, which is January 28, CAPAPA sends this press release of all the privacy-related events being held in Canada: CAPAPA (Canadian Association of Professional Access and Privacy Administrators), Canada’s leading association of privacy and access professionals, is leading the nation-wide Data Privacy Day campaign…
OR: City staff’s private info sent out with water bills
Elissa Harrington and KVAL.com staff report: A list of the names and Social Security numbers of employees of the City of Oakridge was sent out with monthly water bills in this town of about 1,400 households. Don Hadley is one of the residents who got a little more than he bargained for with his most…