SSNs Among Breached Data at Cedars-Sinai in LA
Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles is notifying more than 500 patients that protected health information was on a laptop stolen from an employees home during a burglary on June 23. The investigation continues and the full extent of the breach is not yet known.
Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles is notifying more than 500 patients that protected health information was on a laptop stolen from an employees home during a burglary on June 23. The investigation continues and the full extent of the breach is not yet known.
The laptop was password-protected although its encryption functionality was not operational because it was not reinstalled following changes to the operating system, which violated company security policies, a spokesperson tells Health Data Management.
The employee used the laptop for troubleshooting software used for clinical laboratory reporting, so the laptop was at home to investigate problems occurring during off-hours. Protected information on the laptop included medical record numbers, patient identification numbers, lab testing information, treatment and diagnosis information, and a small percentage of Social Security numbers, according to a statement.
See also: Top Health Data Breaches Caused by Hackers
Cedars-Sinai will notify additional affected patients as they are identified and will offer credit monitoring services to those with compromised SSNs. The breach is the first major one for the organization under the breach notification law and the HHS Office for Civil Rights has been notified.
The laptop was password-protected although its encryption functionality was not operational because it was not reinstalled following changes to the operating system, which violated company security policies, a spokesperson tells Health Data Management.
The employee used the laptop for troubleshooting software used for clinical laboratory reporting, so the laptop was at home to investigate problems occurring during off-hours. Protected information on the laptop included medical record numbers, patient identification numbers, lab testing information, treatment and diagnosis information, and a small percentage of Social Security numbers, according to a statement.
See also: Top Health Data Breaches Caused by Hackers
Cedars-Sinai will notify additional affected patients as they are identified and will offer credit monitoring services to those with compromised SSNs. The breach is the first major one for the organization under the breach notification law and the HHS Office for Civil Rights has been notified.
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