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Walter Reed latest target in string of security breaches affecting federal government

EHR Connection, June 23, 2008

A security breach at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and other military hospitals has exposed sensitive information about approximately 1,000 patients, the Associated Press (AP) reported June 2.

This is the latest in a series of security breaches that have plagued the federal government—including HHS, the Veterans Affairs Department, the Agriculture Department, and the National Nuclear Security Administration—in recent years, according to the article.

The affected computer file included names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates, but did not include medical records or information pertaining to diagnoses or prognoses, according to the AP. Walter Reed officials said the Army and the hospital were investigating the incident and declined to say how the information was compromised.

Walter Reed learned of the breach May 21 from an unidentified outside data mining company that was working for another client, according to the article. Officials said they were notifying people whose information was in the compromised file and offering them free credit protective services. The hospital has established a hotline for patients . The number is 877/854/8542 Ext. 9.

Click here to read the AP article.

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