Posted 02:43PM EST, April 28, 2008
University patient data breach affects tens of thousands
Computer backup tapes with patient information were stolen form a storage company used by the University of Miami. Officials are preparing to notify 47,000 affected patients.
Categories:
HIPAA
On March 17th, 2008, thieves stole a container with back-up tapes containing the sensitive information of patients who visited University of Miami health facilities over the past nine years. The press release by the University of Miami reports that a private off-site storage company they used was one business affected by what law enforcement officials are investigating as "a series of petty thefts".
University officials believe that the proprietary format the tapes are written in will make it unlikely that the patient data, which includes names, addresses, social security numbers or health information, will actually be accessed.
The university has set up a website (http://www.dataincident.miami.edu) and posted an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) in relation to the incident.
Source: The Breach Blog, University of Miami.
University officials believe that the proprietary format the tapes are written in will make it unlikely that the patient data, which includes names, addresses, social security numbers or health information, will actually be accessed.
The university has set up a website (http://www.dataincident.miami.edu) and posted an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) in relation to the incident.
Source: The Breach Blog, University of Miami.
