University of Florida Research Mailer Exposes Patient Information
Quick Facts
- Date: 7/6/2010
- Institution: University of Florida
- Type of Incident: Unauthorized Disclosure
- Number Affected: 2,047
- Source: ESI
- Abstract Source: University of Florida News Release
Abstract
University of Florida officials recently notified individuals after letters about a research study contained personal information on the labels. The letters, inviting individuals to participate in a College of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research research study, contained the names, and Social Security numbers or Medicaid identification numbers of 2,047 individuals. The personal information was accidentally included on the mailing labels affixed to the letters. Instead of personal information, the labels were supposed to include randomly generated numbers to help a telephone survey company verify interested participants. The survey company, Macro International Inc has made plans to purge the personal information from their systems. In total, 647 labels included Social Security numbers and the rest contained Medicaid identification numbers.