A laptop containing information on more than 3,000 patients of Dean and St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wis., has been stolen from a Dean Clinic physician during a home invasion robbery, according to a Dean Clinic news release.
The Dean Clinic received a report of the laptop theft in early November, which was promptly reported to the police that same day and immediately investigated. The facility identified 3,288 patients who may have been affected and is notifying each patient or their guardians by letter.
Through an internal investigation, the clinic learned the laptop contained limited amounts of information, including names, dates of birth, medical record numbers, diagnoses, procedures and possibly pathology data. The laptop did not contain Social Security numbers, credit card information, home addresses, phone numbers or any other financial information. The clinic also stated there was no reason to believe the laptop was stolen to gain access to patient information or that the information would be misused.
In response, both Dean and St. Mary's Hospital are reviewing the breach of policy and are conducting an information and education initiative to ensure employees and providers are on-guard to protect patient information. Additionally, affected patients have been offered one-year identity theft monitoring and protection through ID Experts.
Read the news release about the stolen laptop from a Dean Clinic physician.
Read other coverage about data breaches:
- Arizona Hospital Can't Find Records for 2,284 Endoscopy Patients Two Months After Loss
- Crisis Communication During a Data Breach: 5 Best Practices
- Six California Hospitals Fined for Data Breaches
The Dean Clinic received a report of the laptop theft in early November, which was promptly reported to the police that same day and immediately investigated. The facility identified 3,288 patients who may have been affected and is notifying each patient or their guardians by letter.
Through an internal investigation, the clinic learned the laptop contained limited amounts of information, including names, dates of birth, medical record numbers, diagnoses, procedures and possibly pathology data. The laptop did not contain Social Security numbers, credit card information, home addresses, phone numbers or any other financial information. The clinic also stated there was no reason to believe the laptop was stolen to gain access to patient information or that the information would be misused.
In response, both Dean and St. Mary's Hospital are reviewing the breach of policy and are conducting an information and education initiative to ensure employees and providers are on-guard to protect patient information. Additionally, affected patients have been offered one-year identity theft monitoring and protection through ID Experts.
Read the news release about the stolen laptop from a Dean Clinic physician.
Read other coverage about data breaches:
- Arizona Hospital Can't Find Records for 2,284 Endoscopy Patients Two Months After Loss
- Crisis Communication During a Data Breach: 5 Best Practices
- Six California Hospitals Fined for Data Breaches