Emory Healthcare Data Breach Sparks Concerns of Identify Theft

Emory Healthcare recently reported that a computer containing the personal information of over 38,000 of its cancer patients was stolen from Electronic Registry Systems (ERS), a business contractor in Ohio who manages the data of Emory Healthcare’s cancer registry.  The information stored on the computer included patients’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, medical data and treatment information.

According to news reports, Emory Healthcare believes it is unlikely that patients will be victimized by the theft, given that the data was secured with double password-protection, and the fact that police investigating the burglary did not see any evidence that identify theft was a motive in the crime.

However, Joe Doyle, Administrator of The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA), advises anyone who suspects they might be the victim of identify theft to take the following measures:

• Order a credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus within 2-3 weeks of the suspected theft.  Toll-free numbers are:
  

  Equifax 800-525-6285
  Experian 888-397-3742
  Trans Union 800-680-7289.
  

  (Note:  Georgians are entitled to three free credit reports per year from each credit agency.)

• Check with your bank and credit card issuers to see if there has been any unusual activity on your accounts, such as unauthorized charges, a change-of-address request or a request for additional or replacement cards.  If so, instruct the financial institution not to honor any requests regarding your account without written authorization.  Ask them to cancel your debit and/or credit card and provide a replacement card with a new account number.

• Contact one of the three major credit bureaus and request that a fraud alert be placed in your file.  After your report is confirmed, that agency will automatically notify the other two credit-reporting agencies.

• If fraudulent activity is discovered, file a police report and send a copy to creditors or anyone else who needs proof of the crime.