NEW YORK NURSE: April 2011
by Mark Genovese
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is advising staff and patients of its North Bronx Healthcare Network to be aware of possible misuse of their personal information.
In February, HHC began to notify 1.7 million patients, staff, contractors, vendors and others who were treated by or provided services during the past 20 years at Jacobi Medical Center, North Central Bronx Hospital, and their off-site clinics of a recent reported theft of electronic record files. These files contained personal information, protected health information, and personally identifiable employee medical information. This information can include social security numbers, names, addresses, and other information that may be used to identify individuals.
The loss of this data occurred on Dec. 23, 2010, when computer backup tapes for two North Bronx computer systems were stolen from the truck of its information management services vendor while being taken to a secure storage location. The truck was parked on the street in Manhattan at the time of the theft while the driver was making a pickup from another customer.
HHC said there is no evidence to indicate that the information has been inappropriately accessed or misused. It added that only a person with specialized knowledge and access to the right software and computer hardware would be able to view the information on the stolen tapes. However, it is taking responsibility and providing information and credit monitoring services to all affected.
To sign up for one year of free credit monitoring and fraud resolution services, individuals affected can call 877.412.7148.