Hospital employees use camera phone to sell patient data

Employees at the University of Florida’s UF&Shands health center participated in an identity theft ring that potentially compromised many patients’ personal information.

Patients at Shands Main practice between March 2009 and October 2012 were notified of the breach on 4/2/13. The university learned of an initial incident from law enforcement officials on 10/25/12. The authorities asked the hospital to wait to tell patients until they made headway in the case.

“We don't know how many patients' information was sold,” a university official told Ocala.com. Authorities claim at least one staffer acquired patient insurance information, including names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.

A different employee allegedly took pictures on her phone of computer screens containing the patient information. “Analysis of the phone retrieved thousands of messages and photos sent between,” the employee and another suspect.

 “Can you see them,” the employee sent in one message, dated on June 11, along with photos of confidential patient identity information. “Get closer because some of em (sic) I can’t see so just a lil bit closer,” the other suspect responded.