[Dataloss] medical data published on South Texas Web Site

[Henry Brown]

http://tinyurl.com/37xl5m
Private medical information published on county Web site

EDINBURG — The names, Social Security numbers and treatment descriptions 
for 25 indigent patients were posted on the county’s Web site for nearly 
two months before Hidalgo County officials took them down Monday.

The information — included in documents linked to Commissioners Court’s 
May 29 meeting agenda — specified medical procedures, costs and the 
personal information of those covered by the program.

The information was removed from the county Web site Monday afternoon 
after The Monitor contacted county officials about the situation.

Eduardo Olivarez, director of the county health and human services 
department, said he had no idea why the patients’ personal information 
was published on the Web. He said the department is conducting an 
internal investigation into the matter.

“I’m not sure how it got there,” Olivarez said. “I apologize. I just 
don’t know how it happened.”

The services delivered to the indigent patients were for emergency room 
visits between September 2003 and December 2004.

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