700 patients at Houston Tx. hospital at risk of ID theft

[Henry Brown <hbrown () knology net>]

 From the Houston Chronicle: http://bit.ly/4JIJ02

Some private health information and Social Security numbers of nearly 
700 patients of the Methodist Hospital are at risk after a computer was 
stolen from the hospital's medical office building a week ago.

Letters were mailed Friday notifying patients of the theft, which 
involved a computer attached to a device that tests pulmonary function. 
The theft occurred Jan. 18 at the hospital's wellness department at the 
Smith Tower across the street from Methodist.

“We have no knowledge that the information has been removed from the 
computer or will be used inappropriately, Methodist said in a statement. 
But we've taken additional steps to protect patient information and are 
also tightening security in our office buildings.

Methodist is offering affected patients free credit monitoring and 
identify theft protection services.

The statement said that after learning of the theft, Methodist worked 
with the Houston Police Department and reported the matter to the 
Department of Health and Human Services .

...

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