Someone stole a laptop computer and a hard drive from the John A. Moran Eye Center, compromising partial medical records of more than 600 of its patients.
The theft occurred April 3, when someone took the laptop from locked storage at the center, 65 Mario Capecchi Drive, according to a news release. The center first announced the robbery Saturday, after identifying the number of patients affected and the information taken, spokeswoman Elizabeth Neff said.
The devices contain records for 602 infants and five adults who had retinal images taken by Moran employees during evaluations at the University of Utah Hospital and Primary Children’s Hospital between July 1, 2014, and March 30.
The records are:
Retinal images.
Full or partial names.
Dates of birth.
Medical reference numbers, used to identify records within the University of Utah Heath system.
According to the release, Social Security numbers and financial information weren’t compromised.
Although Neff said she didn’t want to speculate about why someone took the computer, she said, “We feel without that Social Security or any other financial information of any kind … the risk [for patients] is quite low.”
Those affected will receive letters in the mail and can call 855-349-6456 toll-free between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday with any questions and to get information about credit monitoring services.
Neff said the credit monitoring services are meant to give patients “peace of mind.”
After the robbery, the center said it is “improving its policy and procedures and enhancing security measures to reduce the risk of an event like this from occurring again.”
Neff said officials are still evaluating those new policies and security measures and haven’t yet made any changes.
Law enforcement is still investigating the case.
