Tennova Healthcare – Harton Hospital has issued a notice regarding a potential inappropriate disclosure of personal information due to a tornado that struck a building leased by STAT Informatics Solutions, LLC (“STAT”) in Lebanon, Tennessee on March 3, 2020. STAT is based in Wisconsin and provides various secure record services to healthcare entities. Tennova Healthcare – Harton contracts with STAT to scan paper documents into the hospital’s electronic medical record system and for secure destruction of records.
Regrettably, the records stored in the building damaged by the tornado contained medical records, which may have included personal information such as a patient’s full name, social security number, address, date of birth, medical record number, account number, images, diagnoses, nursing and physician documentation, test results, medications, and/or other types of information typically found in a medical record. As a result of the tornado, personal information may have been potentially exposed to others.
Tennova Healthcare – Harton was able to confirm the majority of records remained in the remnants of the building. In an effort to prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of records involved, a tall fence was erected around the property and two security guards were posted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The contents of the building remained secure while the recovery of records was assessed. All records that remained in the building were deemed unuseable and the records were securely destroyed.
At this time, Tennova Healthcare – Harton has no evidence the information has been or will be used in a way that would cause financial harm. A letter will be mailed to individuals whose information may have been involved in the breach with information about how to enroll in credit monitoring services provided by Tennova Healthcare – Harton free of charge to potentially affected individuals.
Tennova Healthcare – Harton sincerely apologizes for this incident and regret any inconvenience it may cause. Should you have questions or concerns regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us at (855) 465-5157. For information on preventing identity theft or to report suspicious activity, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1(877) 438-4338 or get free information at www.ftc.gov.
