Identity Theft in the Hospital

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

identity theft in the hospital

id theft is the fastest-growing crime in america, and hospitals are a fertile source of information.

[Nemhain]

I think about this often...too many people have access to pt. information. I think the hospital should track who views patient information (this was done at one hospital I did clinicals at). Also, only the people assigned to the pt. should have access to information/file. I know of a nurse who looked up info. on her neighbor who was in the hospital.

[BabyRN2Be]

Wow! Thanks for posting that Karen. That's something that I didn't think about, but as you've mentioned it I could totally see someone trying to steal identity from the hospital.

My husband's insurance company went from using SSN as ID numbers to assigned numbers. My DL doesn't have my SSN and never did. It's really great information as we need to protect ourselves from this in this day and age!

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Being a victim of identity theft, it doesn't surprise me. This is such a terrible thing and I wish there was a better system out there to prevent it. You lose more than your identity.

[pattymac]

Our computers at work alert "someone" if you access your own account and if you try to see an account of someone not on your unit. Don't know how it is tracked or if anyone gets in trouble or not. Oh, and don't even think about accessing an account of a famous/VIP person....

[Judee Smudee, ADN, RN]

I remember when myself and my fellow employees had to threaten a law suit just to keep our employer from having time cards with SSI number on them kept in public place. It is a good enviroment to steal employee idenity also.

[jillyk*rn]

i was a victim of identity theft (not at work) and it is horrible.

it gives you a whole new outlook on wanting to find out info about other people .

[asher315]

My hospital is really on top of the privacy issue with HIPPA and with identity theft fo rampant. I complain about changing passwords and throwing away my reports sheets in a locked box (how many times have I carried them home and just tossed them in the trash--not any more!).

I haven't had this done to me but my partner has, he's been trying to clear it up but just keeps running into walls. So far it's just a driver's license problem but it could grow further if he had not caught it in time. Of course, even the dead aren't safe from this.

[mandrews]

My hospital does check to see if someone accesses patient records that is not caring for that particular patient. I didn't believe their system worked but a nurse on dayshift pulled up her own chart to see the results of her MRI and corporate contacted HR and she was in big trouble.

melissa