Breach, Data Security

Two laptops containing patient data stolen from American Family Care

American Family Care is notifying patients that their personal information – including Social Security numbers – may have been stored on two unencrypted, password protected laptops that were stolen from an employee's vehicle in July.

How many victims? Less than 2,500. 

What type of personal information? Information related to work-related injuries, physicals, immunizations, or drug screens. On Aug. 15, American Family Care discovered that the laptops may have contained patient names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, medical record numbers, Social Security numbers, medical information, insurance information, driver's license numbers and dates of service.

What happened? Two unencrypted, password protected laptops containing the personal information were stolen from an employee's vehicle in July.

What was the response? American Family Care is reviewing policies and procedures to minimize the chance of an incident occurring in the future, and is adopting new encryption technology to further safeguard information from unauthorized access. All impacted patients are being notified, and offered a free year of identity theft protection services.

Details: The two laptops were stolen from an employee's vehicle in Georgia on July 18. The laptops were used in the worker's compensation and occupational medicine division.

Quote: “It is important for our patients to understand that the information on the laptops did not pertain to general primary or urgent care visits,” according to a notification. “The laptops were not used in direct patient care.”

Source: A notification, dated Sept. 26, emailed to SCMagazine.com on Monday. A Monday email correspondence with an American Family Care spokesperson.

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