Missing flash drive contains 1,200 Texas patients' AIDS, HIV information

A Harris County Hospital District employee probably violated federal law when she downloaded medical and financial records of more than 1,000 patients with HIV, AIDS, and other conditions onto a flash drive that was either lost or stolen, The Houston Chronicle reported August 7.

 

An employee of the hospital district transferred the data to complete a project away from the office and now is unable to find the device, the newspaper first reported August 6. “We are deeply concerned about this matter and are working with our patients to address their concerns and provide them with appropriate personal identity protection services,” the 28-facility hospital district said in a statement released to the newspaper.

 

The hospital district’s statement did not specify the type of information stored on the device, beyond describing it as PHI, the newspaper reported August 6. Hospital district officials initially declined to provide information beyond that provided in its written statement.

 

Click here to read the August 6 article. Click here to read the August 7 article.