Breach, Data Security

Oregon man received thousands of medical records on his home fax

Patient data was compromised after a Wisconsin hospital unknowingly faxed their records to an Oregon man.

Stephen Butler, who has no affiliation with the hospital, received thousands of faxes over the past year, according to a local radio station, 620 WTMJ.

Community Memorial Hospital, based near Milwaukee, Wis., was alerted of the information leak and attributed the error to insurance provider UnitedHealthcare.

Within the faxes, Butler saw patients' dates of birth, identification numbers, dates they were admitted to the hospital and whether they were still in the hospital. Those affected weren't only from Wisconsin; at least four others live in South Carolina, according to Charleston Channel 2 News.

The insurance company is still investigating the medical record faxes.

UPDATE: UnitedHealthcare reached out to SCMagazine.com on Friday to provide additional details. According to a spokesperson, UnitedHealthcare investigated the incident using information Butler provided. Conversations between UnitedHealthcare and Butler revealed that he owns multiple fax numbers, including one that is a single digit different than UnitedHealthcare's. The insurance provider confirmed that it was not the origin of the faxes.

Additionally, Charleston Channel 2 News confirmed that South Carolina patient data was mistakenly sent to Butler due to UnitedHealthcare's fax number being typed incorrectly by a Roper St. Francis hospital employee.

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