Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group (CHLAMG) recently suffered data breach when one of its unencrypted laptop was stolen. The laptop contained personal health information of 3,600 patients.
According to the reports, laptop was taken away by thief from the locked vehicle of a CHLAMG physician at CHLA. Investigation conducted by the facility found that the laptop was encrypted to up-to-date institutional standards along with password-protection. But later review mentioned the possibility of unencrypted status of laptop.
Facility is notifying patients whose information was stored on the laptop. Affected information includes names, addresses, medical record numbers, and certain clinical information.
“Following the notification regarding the burglary, an investigation took place to determine whether patient health information existed on the laptop,” CHLA spokesman Lorenzo Benet said in a statement. “Based on the investigation, the laptop has not been used to access the internet. From that information, we believe that all data may have been erased from the device without any patient data being accessed.”
Also, a protocol is created to erase data from the laptop when it logs onto the internet next time. Notification letters sent by facility will instruct individuals to review health insurance documents for evidence of misuse or identify theft.
Facility also asked patients to review their Explanation of Benefits statements in case of any unusual behavior . Also, they are advised to notify the hospital immediately for any issues.
About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
“Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has been named the best children’s hospital in California and among the top 10 in the nation for clinical excellence with its selection to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll. Children’s Hospital is home to The Saban Research Institute, one of the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States. Children’s Hospital is also one of America’s premier teaching hospitals through its affiliation with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.”
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