Health Information Management

School district posts former students' PHI online

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, August 1, 2005

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIPAA Weekly Advisor!

The medical, family, and behavioral histories of 56 former students were posted on the Willamette Education Service District's public Web site, according to the Statesman Journal. The district began in April 2004 posting the files, which detail diagnoses such as autism, as well serious emotional disturbance and language delays. They also include personal information such as family members in prison.

The Statesman Journal found the files after attending a presentation about the district's DocuShare electronic-communication system. The district took down its Web server July 20 and will send letters to all of the families affected, telling them what happened and how the district plans to keep it from happening again. The letters also will provide information about how the families can protect themselves from identity theft.

Through tracking, the district found that the only organizations to access the files were the Statesman Journal, the district's employee union, and the Oregon Department of Education.

Click here to read more.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIPAA Weekly Advisor!

  • Briefings on APCs

    Worried about the complexities of the new rules under OPPS and APCs? Briefings on APCs helps you understand the new rules...

  • Medical Records Briefing

    Guiding Health Information Management professionals through the continuously changing field of medical records and toward a...

  • Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies

    Submitting improper Medicare documentaion can lead to denial of fees, payback, fines, and increased diligence from payers...

  • Briefings on HIPAA

    How can you minimize the impact of HIPAA? Subscribe to Briefings on HIPAA, your health information management resource for...

  • APCs Weekly Monitor

    This HTML-based e-mail newsletter provides weekly tips and advice on the new ambulatory payment classifications regulations...

Most Popular

Related Articles