Western Health Screening notifies patients of information breach from vehicle theft

Jessica Kim Cohen -

Billings, Mont.-based Western Health Screening, an on-site blood screenings provider, notified participants about a potential breach of personal information, including names, addresses, phone numbers and some Social Security numbers.

The breach occurred Feb. 7 in Salt Lake City, when a vehicle owned by WHS was stolen in route to a health fair. The vehicle contained a flash drive belonging to WHS, which stored demographic information from health fair participants between the years 2008 and 2012. It did not contain medical information or financial information.

Upon learning of the stolen vehicle, WHS immediately launched an internal investigation and reported the theft to the Salt Lake City Police Department. Although the flash drive was password protected, investigators on Feb. 15 determined it was not encrypted. To date, WHS said there is no evidence participants' information was accessed or misused.

WHS is offering affected participants free identity monitoring services through Kroll, a risk solutions provider. WHS also said participants with questions or concerns can send feedback via mail, email or phone.

"WHS sincerely regrets that this incident occurred," the organization wrote in a letter sent to affected participants. "As a result of this incident, WHS has re-educated its employees with respect to safeguarding sensitive information and has taken steps to enhance its existing procedures related to storing and securing information on mobile devices."

Click here to view the full letter.

Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Western Health Screening for comment and will update as more information is available.

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