The patients were all enrolled in an obstetrics study, and their protected information, including names and some clinical information, was all in a binder that was discovered to be missing Dec. 5, 2013.
When hospital officials were unable to locate the binder, letters were sent out to those affected. “Southwest General is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of the patient information it maintains, and it deeply regrets any inconvenience this may cause its patients,” according to a news release. “Southwest General has existing policies and procedures in place to protect its patients’ health information and has implemented further procedures to help prevent this type of incident from reoccurring.”
More Articles on Data Breaches:
First Industrywide Cyberattack Exercise Planned for March
12 Health IT Predictions for 2014
Data Breach at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Affects 6,700
