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OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

University says limited records probably won’t put anyone at risk for ID theft

The Portland Tribune, Jun 12, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (7 Reader comments)

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Oregon Health and Science University is contacting about 1,000 patients after a doctor’s laptop computer with treatment information was taken during the morning Saturday, June 6, from a car parked in front of her Washington County home.

Information on the Dell laptop was limited and was protected by a password. OHSU officials don’t think any patients are at risk for identity theft because of the information on the computer.

The information included patient names, treatment dates, short medical treatment summaries and medical record numbers. No home addresses, billing information and Social Security numbers were stored on the laptop.

OHSU spokesman Jim Newman said doctors are often allowed to take laptop computers with them as they travel around the region, sometimes to several clinics in the area. The doctors are trained in ways to avoid theft of the computers and to protect the information, Newman said.

OHSU reported that the amount of information on the laptop did not provide enough detail to require notification under Oregon’s ID Theft Law, but the hospital decided to inform affected patients.

The largest breach of personal information in the state was reported in late January 2006 by Providence Health System-Oregon. The hospital system said that in late December 2005 backup computer tapes and discs with personal information on 365,000 patients – most in Oregon – were stolen from an employee’s car parked at a Portland-area home.

Under an assurance of voluntary compliance agreement signed in September 2006 with the state Department of Justice, Providence Health System-Oregon agreed to provide 12 months of credit monitoring services for anyone affected by the theft.

Providence also paid nearly $95,000 to the state’s Consumer Protection and Education Fund.

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Reader comments

Re: OHSU warns patients after laptop with information is stolen

Why are these laptops allowed to leave the hospital? This sort of thing has happened all over the U.S. Where is the learning curve? The associate, who left the laptop in the car, needs to be reprimanded.

"Dennis"

(email verified)

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 04:19 PM

Re: OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

doctors, as well as other people in professional positions, (jobs) should never be able to have personal information stored on their personal computers, laptops, etc. this leaves a wide open door that could infact lead to disaster. personel info. should stay where it belongs, at the office! employees should be held accountable for their careless actions. maybe, and just maybe, this will open up some eyes to the employers and have them fix these kinds of problems before they start being held accountable for these carless acts themselves.

"john herrera"

(email verified)

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 08:00 PM

Re: OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

I don't know if I'd trust a doctor who's not smart enough to know it's never a good idea to leave valuables in a car.

"Boo"

(email verified)

Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 09:00 AM

Re: OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

Every time this happens it's because someone left a laptop in a car! I'm not a doctor and I haven't been "trained in ways to avoid theft of the computers" but even I know not to leave anything in a car that I don't want stolen, no matter where it's parked. Here's a dollar--can I buy these people a clue???

"tasia"

(email verified)

Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Re: OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

Why isn't the information on a secure server access BY the laptop? OHSU has a wireless LAN in place, the database never needs to be on a pilferable hard drive. And the person who left it in the car needs to be terminated, I bet others would take it more seriously then.

"DaveH"

(email verified)

Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 07:47 PM

Re: OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

Why doesnt the article say who the doctor was, so his patients can protect themselves? It appears as his identity is safe, but his patient's is not....hmmm

"Klaatu"

(email verified)

Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 06:28 AM

Re: OHSU warns patients after doctor’s laptop is stolen

I totally agree with several previous comments about leaving the laptop in the car - what the hell was she thinking?! The car was parked in front of her home - so why not bring the laptop in the house? Dennis is right, she needs to be reprimanded if she hasn't already. It's not like this is a new issue, and I'm sure that OHSU has a policy like every other hospital organization has about the security of personal information and the responsibility of the employee.

Of course one person misses the point - "Klaatu" - who only wants to know the name of the doctor involved. Heck, he won't even share his own name! Ironic, huh?