Sutter Medical Foundation recently acknowledged that a computer stolen from their administrative offices in Sacramento on October 17th contained personal information of patients including young children.
A police and internal investigation are underway. The number of individuals who have had their information compromised was not disclosed in the letter.
Compromised Personal Data Includes:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Telephone number
- Medical record number
- Dates of service
- Description of diagnoses, medical procedures
- Name of health insurance plan.
Data theft of this kind can be used for identity theft and by pedophiles who may target children. Sutter claims they have no reason to believe the computer was stolen for personal information on the drives. However, they offered no information to buttress their claims.
The data was not encrypted raising even larger concerns of poor oversight of patient records and privacy. Unencrypted data is easily accessible to anyone with rudimentary computer knowledge, even if the computer is password protected.
The letter confirming the theft was signed by Sutter Medical Foundation CEO, Tom Blinn.
For more information, patients are asked to contact a toll-free privacy hotline number (855) 770-0003.