EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services is investigating after a laptop was stolen from the Lethbridge Sleep Clinic on Oct. 17, 2014.
The laptop contained a database which included names and addresses of about 5,000 patients who are now being notified of the theft. AHS says health care numbers were not stored on the laptop.
Sean Chilton, an AHS spokesman, adds that any breach of patient information, “even one such as this that doesn’t impact patient care or health information, is inexcusable.”
“We sincerely apologize to any patient impacted by this breach of our information safeguards.”
Chilton added that there’s “no indication that the information was targeted for fraudulent purposes,” and that the risk of identity theft is low.
According to AHS, the laptop and database were password protected but not encrypted.
In August, the privacy commissioner expressed concern about a laptop that was stolen last year in Edmonton with the health information of 621,000 people, noting that the need to encrypt such information is a “no-brainer.”
READ MORE: Laptop containing health details of 620,000 Albertans stolen
The theft has been reported to police, Alberta Health and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. AHS’ Privacy Office will work with clinic staff to review safeguards and ensure appropriate measures are being taken to prevent a situation like this from happening again.
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