Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolina Digestive Health Associates is notifying patients that a former employee stole their personal data.
Here are six insights.
1. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department informed CDHA Jan. 10 that a CDHA employee had stolen patients' personal information. CDHA fired the employee involved.
2. A police warrant said detectives found pictures of patients' Social Security numbers, birthdays and names on the employee's phone, WSOC-TV reported. The warrant also said the employee gave about 100 people's information to fraud suspects.
3. The police asked CDHA to hold off on notifying affected patients while they investigated the breach and the employee involved.
4. CDHA is conducting its own investigation to identify any other inappropriately accessed patient records and what information the breached records contained.
5. CDHA is notifying affected patients by mail and offering free identity protection services to potentially impacted patients "out of an abundance of caution."
6. CDHA said it "takes the security of all patient information very seriously and is taking steps to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future, including restricting employee access to patients' sensitive information, and increasing the monitoring and auditing of access to patient records. CDHA deeply regrets any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause."
CDHA could not be reached for comment as of publication.