5K hospice patients impacted by N.C. breach
More than 5,000 hospice patients and their families have been notified about a possible breach of personal information following a February break-in at the organization’s office.
Intruders broke into Hospice of Alamance/Caswell in Burlington, N.C., and stole laptop computers and other miscellaneous items, according to an article published in Times-News. The intruders caused $60,000 in damages, primarily due to discharge of fire extinguishers. However, the security breach relates to access to paper medical and billing records during the break-in, according to the organization.
Thus far, there is no evidence that any patient information was accessed or used.
Data on the computers were encrypted “to conform to industry standards” and protect patient information, according to the article. Some patients’ names could have been accessible through unencrypted emails, but their billing information and dates of birth or Social Security numbers wouldn’t have been included in emails.
As a result of the break-in, the organization is increasing security at the office, adding more surveillance cameras, encrypting emails and changing its codes and passwords.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.