Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Health Partners has notified more than 5,000 patients of a potential data breach after a manager's cell phone was stolen, according to an Albany Business Review report.
The stolen cell phone had access to corporate email systems. Potentially compromised data includes information related to scheduling appointments, such as patient names, birth dates, time and location of appointments and a reason for the appointment, according to the report.
St. Peter's Health Partners does not have reason to believe any patient information has been improperly used. The phone was password protected but was not encrypted in accordance with the health system's security procedures, according to the report.
The health system learned of the stolen phone on Nov. 24 and took steps to remotely wipe its data and disconnect it from the email system, according to the report.
"While at this time we believe the risk is low that the data on these individuals was accessed, we are committed to doing all we can to protect each and every one of them," said Donald Martin, CEO of SPHP Medical Associates.
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