Delaware Hospital CEO Defends Actions Following Data Breach in Memo to Staff

In response to allegations made by two pathologists, Gregory Walker, president and CEO of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, Del., sent a memo to medical staff defending the hospital's actions after a 13-month breach into patients' records, according to a report in Foster's Daily Democrat.

According to the report, the breach lasted from May 2006 to June 2007, when a former employee improperly accessed 1,847 patient reports, which resulted in changes in about half of the records. The breach allegedly involved 1,157 patients.

Pathologists Cheryl Moore, MD, and Glen Littell, MD, came forward with the allegations after they say WDH administration ignored and attempted to stonewall actions to address the data breach.

Mr. Walker wrote in the memo that WDH reviewed the audit of lab records and determined that the hospital followed "applicable privacy rules and acted appropriately by sending letters to referring physicians," according to the report. He noted that WDH had put into place corrective actions to prevent such a breach from happening in the future.

Mr. Walker also reaffirmed the hospital's encouragement and requirement of employees and medical staff to come forward with any concerns in the memo.

Read the Democrat's report about the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital data breach.