UCSF Patient Information Available Online
Quick Facts
- Date: 5/2/2008
- Institution: University of California, San Francisco
- Type of Incident: Unauthorized Disclosure
- Number Affected: 6,313
- Source: ESI
- Abstract Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Abstract
The University of California, San Francisco is alerting patients after personal patient information connected with the university was found online. In October of 2007, UCSF became aware that patient information the university had shared with Target America Inc. to help identify potential donors was available online. The information available included the names, addresses, names of departments where patient received care and in some cases patient medical record numbers and physicians providing care on 6,313 UCSF patients. UCSF took immediate action to remove public access to the data once it was aware of the incident. In addition, UCSF ended the business agreement it had with Trade America shortly after the incident was discovered. UCSF is mailed notification letters to the affected patients in April. It is not known why UCSF waited so long to notify patients about the exposure.
