[Dataloss] Update on laptop robbery/data theft

[blitz]

A couple days ago it was reported two laptops containing medical 
information were taken in a gunpoint robbery in New Jersey.
Yesterday, it was reported in a Buffalo, NY paper that Mt. St. Mary's 
hospital in Lewiston, NY was one hospital that had confidential 
information on one of those laptops.

--story below:

Laptop theft may lead to release of patient data
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060217/3026081.asp

2/17/2006
[]

LEWISTON - Personal information may have been released on patients at 
Mount St. Mary's Hospital from 2001 to 2004, according to President 
and CEO Angelo G. Calbone.

Two laptops were stolen recently in an armed robbery in the New 
Jersey office of a national consulting firm that was doing work for 
Mount St. Mary's. Although there is a suspect in the robbery, the two 
laptops have not been found.

"This is a pretty routine business practice. We were one of 10 
hospitals that had records with this consulting firm. They look at 
things like managing files, billing and collections. It's a routine 
thing that went haywire," said Fred Caso, Mount St. Mary's director 
of community relations.

In the robbery, a man's wallet and two laptops were taken. The 
laptops are password-protected and the files on the computer also 
were password-protected, Caso said.

However, he said, the hospital wants to warn people that personal 
information, such as date of birth, address and Social Security 
numbers, was on the laptops.

Calbone is notifying the affected patients of the incident and 
offering ways to safeguard themselves, such having credit agencies 
put a fraud alert on their accounts.

The hospital has established a dedicated phone line to answer 
questions from patients. Calls will be taken from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Monday through Friday at 298-2000.

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