Stolen laptop affects 513 Georgia patients

Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU) has notified 513 patients about the theft of a laptop computer that may have contained some of their personal information.

On Jan. 18, a nurse practitioner who works in sickle cell clinics across Georgia, including the Georgia Health Sciences Adult Sickle Cell Clinic, had a laptop computer stolen from her home, according to the Augusta-based GHSU. The information in the records on the laptop was limited to name, date of birth, limited diagnosis information and an internal code associated with the patient’s laboratory tests. The records did not include addresses, social security numbers or financial information.

“We have taken steps to further strengthen our security efforts and are making every attempt to personally notify patients whose information may have been involved,” said Christine Adams, enterprise privacy officer, in a statement.