FLORIDA COMPUTERS CONTAINING PATIENT DATA STOLEN FROM GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER WJHG | Stolen Computers with Personal Information:

Stolen Computers with Personal Information

Four Laptop Computers with Patient Information Stolen from H-C-A, the Parent Firm of Gulf Coast Medical Center

The latest case of potential identity theft could affect thousands of people here in our area.

Someone stole 4- laptop computers from Hospital Corporation of America employees, which operates Gulf Coast Medical Center.

The computer thefts did not happen here, but those computers contained information on almost 10-thousand local patients.

The first theft happened in November, when someone stole 3-laptop computers out of a vehicle in another part of the country. The fourth computer was stolen this month, in a different state.

It’s a total of 4 stolen laptops in 2 separate incidents that included about 98-hundred names of patients at Gulf Coast Medical Center.

Gulf Coast’s Marketing Director Rod Whiting says H-C-A has never had a reported incident of identity theft related to any stolen information and they re hoping to keep it that way. "What we’re being told by our corporate security officers is that all the information on the laptop computers that were stolen-- that information was password protected...there is no indication there has been any identity theft, which is good news for people on this list."

Even so, H-C-A is acting on the side of caution. The corporation is contacting every patient whose information is in the stolen computers. Whiting said, “The incident that occurred in late 2006 included 1900 patients who’ve been at Gulf Coast Medical Center and they have already received the letter detailing the process and their opportunity to take advantage of the credit card monitoring service, Transunion, that our corporation will provide free of service. The letter outlines the steps that those patients need to take to take advantage of that offer."

Whiting says H-C-A is in the process of notifying the other 8-thousand patients who were involved in the incidents. The local hospital does not have the names which are involved. So don t call the hospital and ask if you re affected.

"If you receive a letter, that is your notification that your name was in the information and that letter will outline what your next steps are. So if you don t receive a letter you are not involved.”

There is no indication any vital information has gotten into the hands of the thieves.