OHSU: Three Big Breaches in a Year

Unauthorized use of cloud computing storage services in two departments of Oregon Health & Science University has resulted in the organization notifying more than 3,000 patients that protected health information may have been compromised. The incident is the third major breach for OHSU in the past year. The previous breaches on the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ public Web site included an unspecified theft on July 4, 2012, affecting 702 patients, and the theft of a laptop on Feb. 22, 2013, affecting 1,114.

Here is the statement on the latest breach from the university:

Oregon Health & Science University is notifying 3,044 patients that their OHSU health information was stored on an Internet-based email and/or document storage service, also known as a “cloud” computing system.

Although the Internet-based service provider (Google Drive, Google Mail) is password-protected and has security measures and policies in place to protect information, it is not an OHSU business associate with a contractual agreement to use or store OHSU patient health information.

There is no evidence that the data was accessed or used by anyone who did not have a legitimate patient care need to view the information. However, the terms of service indicate the data stored with the Internet-based provider can be used for the “purpose of operating, promoting, and improving [its] Services, and to develop new ones.” OHSU has been unable to confirm with the Internet service provider that OHSU health information has not been, and will not be, used for these purposes. Consequently, OHSU is notifying all affected patients.

In May 2013, an OHSU School of Medicine faculty member discovered residents, or physicians-in-training, in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery were using Internet-based services to maintain a spreadsheet of patients. Their intent was to provide each other up-to-date information about who was admitted to the hospital under the care of their division.

Upon learning of the incident, OHSU Information Privacy and Security experts undertook an extensive investigation to determine what information was stored on the Internet-based service, who was impacted and the likelihood that disclosure of the information could cause harm to the patients involved. This investigation led to the discovery of a similar practice in the Department of Urology and in Kidney Transplant Services. After weeks spent reconstructing the data, the privacy and security experts discovered 3,044 patients admitted to the hospital between Jan. 1, 2011, and July 3, 2013, were affected.

The data stored with the Internet service provider included the patient’s name, medical record number, dates of service, age, provider’s name and diagnosis/prognosis. For 731 patients, the data also included an address. For 617 patients, neither the reason for hospital stay, or diagnosis, nor the patient’s prognosis, or projected outcome, was among the stored data. The data DID NOT include the patient’s Social Security Number, insurance information, credit card information, bank information, phone number or date of birth.

“We do not believe this incident will result in identity theft or financial harm; however, in the interest of patient security and transparency and our obligation to report unauthorized access to personal health information to federal agencies, we are contacting all affected patients. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or worry this may cause our patients or their families,” said John Rasmussen, OHSU’s Chief Information Security Officer.

All OHSU patient health information found on the Internet-based service has been removed, and all residents have been re-educated about the critical importance of using OHSU-approved tools for securely sharing and updating patient information.”

A 1-800-number has been established to answer patient questions and concerns. That number is 877 819-9774. The hotline will be staffed Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.to 6 p.m. Letters were sent to affected patients July 26, 2013.