St. Louis-based SSM Health on May 17 notified 836 patients of a privacy breach following the theft of a medical device.
A component of an electromyography device was stolen from SSM Health Orthopedics Center at Bridgeton, Mo.-based DePaul Hospital in April, according to a news release emailed to Becker's Hospital Review. The device was used by patients of Syed Khader, MD, who ran an electrodiagnostic study between 2002 and 2017.
Upon discovering the theft, SSM Health filed a police report and launched an investigation. The device contained information related to patient names, dates of birth and medical record numbers. It did not house Social Security numbers or financial information.
"It is likely that the purpose of the theft was to steal the medical device, which resembles a laptop computer, and not health information," according to the news release.
SSM Health has since enhanced its staff training and written procedures related to patient information and established a call line to answer patient questions.
Click here to view the patient notification.