Medical Records Breach in Detroit

DETROIT (myFOXDetroit.com) - The personal information for thousands of Detroiters could be at risk. They're patients of the Detroit Health Department.

Five computers were stolen from the immunization program at the Herman Kiefer Health Center. One desktop PC contained Medicare and Medcaid information on individuals.

"The number is approximately 10,000 individuals," said Michael McElrath with the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion. "We have letters right now to 2,700 of them. They are the ones that we have actual valid addresses for. Once they receive the letter, they should respond to us and give us a call as quickly as possible."

Another security breach occurred when a flash drive was stolen from an employees car parked at the Herman Kiefer lot.

Many of the medical records stolen contain vital information, such as names, addresses, medicaid and Social Security numbers.

File stolen include birth certificate information for Detroit residents in the 48202 and 48205 zip codes for all of 2008 and the first half of 2009.

The health department has sent letters to people affected by the security breach.

"We're providing mitigation for that circumstance. If there is any kind of credit fraud, we're providing credit monitoring to those individuals," McElrath said.

The employee whose flash drive was stolen was disciplined.

"Removing any type of medical records, health information... birth certificate information is against the Detroit Health Department's policy, and the individual that had this happen was changing computers at the time. Put information into a flash drive," said William Ridella with the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion.

For more information on the medical records security breach, visit www.detroitmi.gov/health.