Health Information Management

Security breach threatens patients, donors

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, November 20, 2006

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Akron Children's Hospital on September 6 discovered security breaches involving two databases that store patients' PHI and the personal information of financial donors, according to the organization.

Hackers accessed the databases without authorization, during expansion and testing of Akron's computer systems. The compromised information includes patients' names, addresses, and birth dates, as well as the Social Security numbers of patients and guarantors. Hackers also viewed hospital donors' unencrypted bank account and routing numbers.

Security consultants retained by Akron found no evidence that hackers downloaded or tampered with specific data. The hospital has notified the authorities and reviewed/enhanced its security procedures, according to information on its Web site.



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