NYC hospital reports loss of patient data, steps taken
Lincoln Medical and Mental Center of the Bronx, New York, has notified patients that several CDs containing patient information were lost, although the facility said it has no knowledge of improper data access has occurred as a result of the loss.
A shipment of seven duplicate CDs were lost while being transported via FedEx to Lincoln Hospital between March 16 and 24, according to a statement on the hospital’s website.
Siemens Healthcare, which performs billing and claims processing for Lincoln, created the CDs, which contained some protected health and personal information, including patient names, addresses, social security numbers, medical record number, health plan information and possibly drivers license numbers, according to the statement.
The hospital reported that FedEx and Siemens conducted an immediate investigation to locate the CDs, and Siemens notified the hospital that the CDs were missing. “Siemens was promptly directed to suspend further transport of CDs by carrier. And policies have been put in place to ensure that a similar incident does not recur,” the statement said.
Lincoln has sent letters to all affected patients and informed them of steps to take to protect themselves from possible harm, including how to obtain free credit reports and avoid identity theft.
The letter to patients, dated June 4 and posted on the hospital's website, states: "Please note that Lincoln has no knowledge that your protected health information has, in fact, been improperly accessed by any person or entity."
The CDs are password protected, and may have become separated from their shipping envelope at a FedEx facility, and may have been "swept up and destroyed," the letter said.
A shipment of seven duplicate CDs were lost while being transported via FedEx to Lincoln Hospital between March 16 and 24, according to a statement on the hospital’s website.
Siemens Healthcare, which performs billing and claims processing for Lincoln, created the CDs, which contained some protected health and personal information, including patient names, addresses, social security numbers, medical record number, health plan information and possibly drivers license numbers, according to the statement.
The hospital reported that FedEx and Siemens conducted an immediate investigation to locate the CDs, and Siemens notified the hospital that the CDs were missing. “Siemens was promptly directed to suspend further transport of CDs by carrier. And policies have been put in place to ensure that a similar incident does not recur,” the statement said.
Lincoln has sent letters to all affected patients and informed them of steps to take to protect themselves from possible harm, including how to obtain free credit reports and avoid identity theft.
The letter to patients, dated June 4 and posted on the hospital's website, states: "Please note that Lincoln has no knowledge that your protected health information has, in fact, been improperly accessed by any person or entity."
The CDs are password protected, and may have become separated from their shipping envelope at a FedEx facility, and may have been "swept up and destroyed," the letter said.