Health Information Management

Data for 38,000 cancer patients missing

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, January 8, 2007

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More than 38,000 cancer patients are at risk of identity theft after thieves stole a computer containing their personal information from an Ohio business contractor, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). The victims were seeing physicians from several hospitals, including those affiliated with Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare and Geisinger Health System, in Pennsylvania.

The November 23, 2006, theft occurred at the Springdale, OH offices of Electronic Registry Systems, which provides cancer registry data services. Police told AJC that the theft did not appear to be aimed at stealing information off of the computer. However, Emory Healthcare advised patients to register a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies.

The stolen data is password-protected and includes patients'

  • names
  • Social Security numbers
  • addresses
  • medical and treatment information

Click here to read the AJC article.



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