Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center has notified approximately 900 patients treated at the medical center's Augustus F. Hawkins Mental Health Center that their medical records were removed from the hospital without authorization by an employee.
According to a hospital statement, the files were found at the home of an employee of Hawkins during a search April 3. A Los Angeles Times report indicates the employee was a nurse who has since resigned from the hospital.
The medical records contained full names, medical record numbers, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, diagnoses, dates of admit, insurance carriers, insurance identification numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal information such as driver's license information. The majority of patients affected were treated at Hawkins between 2011 and 2015.
According to the LA Times report, it is unclear if any patient information has been misused. Officials are investigating the incident.
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