DETROIT – West Bloomfield police found a former Detroit Medical Center-Harper University Hospital employee with the personal information of 1,087 patients during an identity theft investigation.
DMC has notified all patients of the data theft through letters, the health system said in a news release on Thursday. The hospital has offered all of those patients free credit monitoring through ALLClear ID Alert Network.
Police found the ex-employee with documents including patients' personal health information, such as name, date of birth, the reason for the patient's visit and, in some cases, Social Security numbers.
"Obviously someone getting your ID, getting your personal information, they can open up bank accounts," said Curt Lawson, administrative lieutenant with West Bloomfield police.
DMC says upon notification of the breach the hospital "initiated an internal review and immediately revoked the employee's access to its computer systems and all of the Detroit Medical Center hospitals."
"The entire Detroit Medical Center takes the protection of its patients' personal information very seriously. Security of that information is paramount and medical center officials say they deeply regret that this situation has occurred," the health system said in a news release.
Patients can call 855-830-9731 if they have questions or would like more information.
"Any time you take the trash out to the curb, that is open to the public. We very much encourage shredding documents, making sure you hold secure your Social Security numbers, your driver's license, your personal information about your family," said Lawson.