ProMedica has terminated three employees for accessing patient records at two hospitals for reasons unrelated to their job responsibilities, reports The Toledo Blade.
In total, seven employees accessed 3,472 patients' medical records at ProMedica's Bixby Hospital in Adrian, Mich., and Herrick Hospital in Tecumseh, Mich. The three employees who were terminated had no reason to access the records, and the other four had authority to access the records under certain circumstances. The four with access are receiving "extensive disciplinary actions," Julie Yaroch, DO, president of Bixby and Herrick hospitals, told The Toledo Blade.
The employees accessed patient names, birth dates, medications and clinical information from acute care services. Dr. Yaroch indicated none of the records were printed, and there is no reason to believe the information was recorded for outside use, according to the report.
Another employee of the Toledo, Ohio-based health system alerted hospital administrators of the breach in April, and ProMedica launched an investigation into the incident. Dr. Yaroch informed The Toledo Blade of the breach on Friday.
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