Charles Ornstein reports in the Los Angeles Times: UCLA Medical Center is taking steps to fire at least 13 employees and has suspended at least six others for snooping in the confidential medical records of pop star Britney Spears, who was recently hospitalized in its psychiatric ward, a person familiar with the matter said today….
Minnesota: Without Your Consent
Seen at the Wright County Republican web site: Please contact Governor Tim Pawlenty and other elected leaders now to tell them you oppose government ownership if DNA of newborn citizens and the distribution of baby DNA to genetic researchers without consent or legal authority. Demand the immediate dismantlement of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDA)…
4 Reasons Why Health Plans Struggle with PHRs
Vince Kuraitis writes on e-CareManagement blog Aetna recently made another big announcement relating to their PHR. While the concept of what they’re doing is very appealing, it strikes me that health plans in general face an uphill battle in getting consumers to adopt and use personal health records (PHRs). I’ll describe 4 factors behind my…
Laptop with patient information stolen from University Health Care
Sarah Dallof of KSL reports: Thousands of people are being cautioned to keep their eyes on their credit reports tonight. A laptop with names, Social Security numbers and personal health information was stolen from University Health Care in Salt Lake City. The laptop was reported missing Feb. 25. University Health Care began mailing out letters…
Hospital tech gets 2 years for theft from dead Grapevine police officer
Domingo Ramirez Jr. reports in the Star-Telegram: DALLAS — Dandy “Chris” Wiles stood over the body of a Grapevine man last May in the emergency room at Baylor Medical Center at Grapevine, high on the club drug ketamine as he worked as an emergency room technician. He was supposed to collect the belongings and jewelry…
NH: House kills medical privacy bill
Reported in the New Hampshire Business Review: The New Hampshire House narrowly defeated a bill that would have required additional privacy restrictions on electronic medical records, which hospitals have said were too costly. The bill would have extended the federal privacy rights known as HIPAA to business associates, such as software vendors, and restrict access…