MICHIGAN (UPDATE) COMPUTER STOLEN http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/25801194/detail.html


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Detroit Hospital Security Breach

Personal Information Could Be Compromised

POSTED: Monday, November 15, 2010

UPDATED: 5:36 pm EST November 15, 2010

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DETROIT, Mich. -- Henry Ford Health Systems has notified patients of a possible security breach after a laptop was stolen out of an unlocked medical urology office September 24th. Representatives with the hospital said although the password was protected there is a possibility some personal patient information could be at risk.

The hospital began notifying affected patients in a letter mailed last week from Chief Privacy Officer Meredith Phillips. The letter explained what happened, what information was stored on the laptop and what steps the health system is taking to prevent future breaches of patient information.

"The security of our patients' health information is very important to us, and we sincerely apologize for what happened," Phillips said. "This laptop did not have the proper security protections that we require for laptop computers storing patient information."

VIDEO: Henry Ford Security Breach

The laptop contained patient information related to prostate services received between 1997 and 2008 and included some but not all of the following information: Patient name, medical record number, date of birth, mailing and e-mail addresses, telephone number, treatment and doctor visits. No Social Security numbers or health insurance information were stored on the laptop.

Under federal law, health care organizations are required to notify patients within 60 days of a breach of unsecured health information.

To address any patient questions or concerns, Henry Ford set up a toll-free telephone number: 1-888-313-1027.