Ex-Worker Pocketed Employer’s Patient Data to Start Rival Firm

Owensboro Medical Practice in Kentucky and its business associate, Research Integrity, learned that a spreadsheet containing protected health information was “wrongfully copied and removed from the offices of Research Integrity by a former employee,” a breach notification states.

The companies do not believe the data will be used to commit ID theft, but rather the information is being used for research purposes by a competitor.

The former worker allegedly stole health information on thousands of clients three years ago, 14News WFIE reports.

The information in the database included patient names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and health conditions.

The firms are trying to retrieve all hard copies of the information and ensure all computerized versions are deleted.