SVVSD students' info with stolen laptop

December 14, 2006

By Victoria A.F. Camron, The Daily Times-Call

http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=12861



Information identifying as many as 600 St. Vrain Valley School District students whose health care is paid by Medicaid was stolen with a school nurse.s laptop computer last month, a school district spokesman said Wednesday.

The paper records included students. names and dates of birth; the names of their schools and what grade they are in; the students. Medicaid numbers; and their parents. names, said John Poynton, district spokesman.

No medical information was lost, he said.

The laptop computer and its case were stolen from a school nurse.s car Nov. 20 while she was at FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield after work, Poynton said, correcting the date of the burglary he reported Tuesday.

Most of the students eligible for Medicaid are from low-income families, although a few are disabled, Poynton said. The district plans to notify the affected students by Friday.

Determining whose names were on the list was .a big part of the delay. in letting families know of the theft, Poynton said. The nurse.s list included only the names of students at schools where she worked, but Poynton said he did not know what those schools are.

Poynton said he was told no one can access students. medical records with their Medicaid numbers.

No information was on the computer.s hard drive because the laptop was used only to access the school.s computer network, Poynton said. The district.s information technology staff was able to access the laptop remotely and change its password, so that information should be protected, he said.

The school district bills Medicaid for therapy and other services.


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