One More Patient Security Breach in Alaska This Time

Now this one sounds like complete human error with some one in a hurry to get an email blast out.  An attachment went along with the email that divulged the names of disabled patients, all for the sake of doing a survey?  Well those procedures better have a second look I would say.  It’s one of those “third party deals” again with patient data, where a lot of the breaches take place.  All one had to do here was read the email sent.   BD 

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An email from Alaska-based Hope Community Resources that had meant to promote a survey of clients and stakeholders instead included attachments with confidential information of its 3,700 disabled clients that contract with Hope, according to an Aug. 20 article in Alaska Dispatch .

In this latest breach, the names, dates of birth, guardians and parents, addresses and other private identifying information were disclosed. The email had sought to collect data required for state health accreditation; ironically, the survey asked recipients—including state workers and others who assist the disabled—about their experience with Hope handling sensitive information, according to the article.

http://www.clinical-innovation.com/topics/privacy-security/email-accidentally-discloses-information-3700-disabled-patients