BETH ISRAEL SUFFERS SIGNIFICANT DATA BREACH OF HEALTH PROTECTED INFORMATION

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston has learned that over 3900 individuals had a potential breach of protected health information resulting from a physician’s stolen personal laptop computer. The computer was stolen on May 22 and contained a tracking device which has not resulting in locating it. The hospital is notifying the patients of the occurrence and a suspect has been arrested. The laptop contained short summaries of medical information used for administrative purposes at the hospital but did not contain patient financial info or social security numbers. A similar breach has occurred at MGH and The South Shore Hospital in the past.