COLORADO PERSONAL INFORMATION LOST FROM LONGMONT HOSPITAL http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_158214007.html

(CBS4) LONGMONT, Colo. Hundreds of people may be at risk for identity theft after an employee at a metro area hospital lost a computer drive where personal information was stored.

The portable computer drive from Longmont United Hospital was small enough to fit a keychain, but contained the identities of 254 patients.

"The disadvantage is (that it's) easy to use, quick to operate and even easier to lose," said Matt Hartzler, spokesperson for Longmont United Hospital.

The employee, apparently unaware of the policy prohibiting removal of the portable media device, downloaded the names and social security numbers of the home care patients and then lost her computer drive.

"It's the result of somebody trying to be efficient," Hartzler said.

The hospital sent a letter to the patients affected and suggested they track their credit to make sure their identities haven't beenstolen.

Hartzler said the user would have to have a lot of computer savvy."

The information that's on this is, for a lack of a better term, cloaked," Hartzler said. "It's not easily accessible.

"The Longmont case was just one of several similar incidences in recent weeks.

In April, the Colorado Mental Institute of Fort Logan had personal information on 247 patients and 40 employees stolen from a briefcase.

In May, more then 26 million veterans' identities were compromised when a Department of Veteran Affairs employee took home a laptopcomputer that stored personal information.

"The last thing we want to do is send out a notification saying that 'your information may have been lost,'" Hartzler said.

Longmont United said this is the first time the hospital has had patient information compromised.