NEW MEXICO – Stolen Laptop Raises Security Concerns for Oncology/Hematology Patients

A week ago the New Mexico Cancer Center, which is operated by New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants, Ltd. (NMOHC), put out a press release letting patients know that there had been a HIPAA security breach at one of their locations.

On November 13, 2013, a laptop that may have contained protected health information (PHI) such as names, dates of birth, addresses, diagnostic results or information related to treatment, and insurance information was stolen from an employee’s office.

From the NMOHC press release:

In compliance with federal law, patients affected by the security breach are being notified of the incident, and, although the company is not aware of any access or misuse of the PHI by any unauthorized individual, patients are strongly encouraged to take steps to eliminate or minimize any potential harm that could be caused by the theft.  This includes, but is not limited to, obtaining credit reports from one or more of the major credit reporting agencies, and monitoring financial and banking accounts for unauthorized activity.

By law, consumers may request a free copy of their credit report once every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (i.e., Equifax, Experian, Trans Union).  These agencies have set up a central website that patients can use to order a free credit report.  The free report can be requested online at www.annualcreditreport.com, by phone at 1-877-322-8228, or by mail addressed to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

The above matter has been reported to the local police department.  While NMOHC hopes to recover the stolen computer and PHI, that may not be possible.  In an attempt to prevent further breaches of PHI, NMOHC has increased physical security safeguards as well as implementing additional security safeguards on all laptops. NMOHC is also strengthening other aspects of its internal HIPAA security program.

NMOHC claims that Social Security numbers and driver license numbers were not included.  The number of affected or potentially affected patients was not released though the New Mexico Cancer Center website boasts that they “provide(s) care to one in three New Mexicans facing cancer.”

If you are or have been a patient of the New Mexico Cancer Center or NMOHC webleed.org urges you to be proactive in taking action to make sure that you do not become a victim of this theft.

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