Hospital Data Breach Affects 3,000 People

Employee with access to hospital data servers improperly viewed private health information

By By Dan Hounsell


Healthcare IT managers continue fortifying defenses of their in-house technology and devices in an effort to stem the growing tide of cyber attacks seeking valuable patient information. Unfortunately, data breaches continue at a rapid pace.

The California Department of State Hospitals recently discovered that an employee data breach uncovered in February affected about 2,952 more individuals than initially believed, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. The department on Feb. 25 discovered that an employee who had access to Atascadero (Calif.) State Hospital data servers as part of their IT job responsibilities had improperly viewed the private health information of about 1,415 patients and 617 employees. Patient and employee data exposed in the breach included names, COVID-19 test results and information needed for COVID-19 tracking.

The additional data involved in the breach belonged to about 1,735 current and former hospital employees, as well as 1,217 hospital job applicants who never became employees.



April 8, 2021


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Designing for the Psychology of Waiting

A well-designed waiting room does more than fill time — it eases the patient experience and creates a more functional healthcare environment.


UT Health Sciences Breaks Ground on College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building

Construction is expected to be substantially completed in 2029, with full occupancy by 2030.


Vandalia Health, Mary Free Bed Break Ground on New Rehabilitation Hospital

The new hospital will feature three stories and more than 93,000 square feet dedicated to comprehensive rehabilitation services.


Why New Era of Care Demands an Ambulatory Facilities Approach

The shift from hospital-centric to ambulatory care has outpaced most health systems’ operating models, creating urgency for a new facilities management playbook.


ClearSky Health Plans New Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in North Carolina

The hospital will provide specialized rehabilitative care to patients recovering from disabling injuries or illnesses.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.