‘How could this happen?’ Patients react to bizarre breach of private medical records
Patients are speaking out following an unusual breach of personal information resulting from an incident in which medical records literally fell off a truck in Fort Meyers, Fl.
Radiology Regional Center recently began notifying patients via letter of the potential privacy breach, which occurred in December of last year. The problem, according to patients affected by the incident, is the delay in notification.
“My personal information all over Fowler?” a patient told local CBS affiliate WINK news. “I said, ‘oh my gosh, and you just now contacting us?'”
“It just seemed like it was just carelessness on their part, like how could this happen?” said Vickie Saez, another patient potentially affected by the incident. “I don’t understand.”
The company says the breach occurred when an unsecured door on a truck run by third-party transporter Lee County Solid Waste caused patients’ records to be scattered on a local street. The contract between the two companies has been terminated, according to the report.
“Radiology Regional Center takes the protection of our patient’s information and their privacy very seriously,” the company said in a statement, adding that no patients have reported any issues related to the potential breach.