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Updated: 9:31 PM Oct 13, 2009
Hospital Says Patient Personal Data Possibly Compromised
The hospital is trying to notify 1700 former patients, offering them free credit monitoring to those whose personal information may have been compromised.
Posted: 11:48 AM Oct 13, 2009 |
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32 Comments 
A missing computer part, with sensitive patient credit information, is missing from Pitt County Memorial Hospital.
The hospital is trying to notify 1700 former patients, offering them free credit monitoring to those whose personal information may have been compromised.
The hospital says patient names and Social Security numbers were placed onto a portable computer storage device, used to move the information between different computer systems. Employees have since discovered that USB flashdrive is missing from where it was stored.
It contained information from transplant patients and possible donors.
"Pitt County Memorial Hospital deeply regrets this incident and is making changes to its processes to prevent this from happening again," said Steve Lawler, president of PCMH. "We work hard to earn the trust and confidence of the people we serve, and we want to do everything we can to help maintain that trust."
The hospital says the former patients date back to the 1980's and they are trying to find addressed for some of those people affected.
Contact the hospital "Breach Hotline" at 1-877-676-0376 if you have concerns about the security of your personal information or click on the link below for further details.
Latest Comments
What has happened to us is unforgiveable!! It is like giving someone the keys to your house and please take what you want. I'm sorry I have worked in heath care and this person should be fired!! I know it's tuff but we the paients are at risk. When is PCMH going to step to the plate and take the proper action and then let the transplant patients know that this person is know longer there???
I work in healthcare and know how difficult the jobs of healthcare workers can be. I can assure you that PCMH has a policy regarding data security, someone made a mistake and will unfortunately pay for it. As the most heavily regulated industry in the United States, it's a wonder these workers can remember to use the bathroom along with every CMS, DHSR, NFPA, EPA, OIG, JCAHO, OSHA, ANA, AMA, AORN, ACS, CDC, et. al. regulation the government throws at us. So go ahead and sue, liability insurance will go up, healthcare costs will go up, hospital will have less money to buy supplies and pay staff, you will eventually have to take care of yourself. Good luck with that.
To Anonymous.....FYI: I, myself, am a previous employee of PCMH so I happen to know EXACTLY what goes into working there. The fact is that they focus so much on not "offending" other people that they constantly let their employees who've been there forever, their "senior employees...technicians/nurses" make mistake after mistake, covering it all up...while great employees are forced to leave because they get tired of doing the right things and putting up with it! If this was the first mistake, then, yes, it happens, but stuff like this (often in the same department) happens time and time again!
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