Millions in fines possible for hospital that dumped patient records

[pstokely]

Source: KSHB

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The dumping of hundreds of patient records into an open-topped dumpster on a windy Monday could lead to millions of dollars in fines for Research Medical Center and Midwest Women’s Healthcare Specialists for violations of federal patient privacy laws.

The records, which were scattered for blocks by winds on Monday, contain patient names, social security numbers, addresses and procedures and tests performed. Those recovered by a good Samaritan and given to 41 Action News run mainly from August to September in 2011.

All the patients are women, ranging in age from 17 to 87 years old

Read more: http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/millions-in-fines-possible-for-hospital-that-dumped-patient-records

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and why aren't they recycling either? probably just told their slave labor to dump the records somewhere

[SheilaT]

1. It's scary how many

people who ought to be careful about files aren't.

A while back I worked for an attorney who decided to put old client files in a dumpster. I wasn't very happy about it, but now I wish I'd objected more strongly and told him I'd quit if he did that.

[SamKnause]

2. Is there anything in the U.S. that isn't

suffering ineptness and corruption ????

[ColesCountyDem]

3. Shocking!

I used to work for AT&T. While I don't have much good to say about them, I will say this: every piece of discarded paper was placed in a locked bin and later shredded, after it was discarded. Employees could be disciplined for failing to place paper in the 'shred bin'.

[McCamy Taylor]

4. We had a tornado in my town, and my lawyer's files were sucked out of his office.

But at the very least they could have poured some gasoline in the dumpster and set in on fire.

[tblue37]

5. Antipollution ordinances would forbid that! nt