Canadian Healthcare Technology Logo
  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us

GE Shop

GE Shop

Enovacom SickKids case study

Enovacom SickKids case study

Privacy & Security

Debbie Malloy

Eastern Health finds missing USB in file folder

August 19, 2015


ST. JOHN’S – Eastern Health, in Newfoundland, says it has found a missing USB flash drive containing the personal information of thousands of employees – it was in a file folder in the Human Resources department the whole time. The mishap cost the health authority more than $100,000.

According to Eastern Health, an employee found the drive while she was doing some office tidying. “She pulled a group of file folders out of the shelf and the USB drive fell onto the floor,” said Debbie Molloy (pictured), interim vice president of human resources.

“We were so very relieved when we found the drive,” Molloy said. They are not really sure how the drive got into that location and they are still investigating employees’ actions.

“We did search that office, but there are 50 to 60 workstations that people work in and there are literally thousands of files in that office,” she said. “We were actually hoping that it would turn up.”

The health authority reported a privacy breach June 19 when a drive containing sensitive information of 9,000 employees went missing.

Of the 9,000 people whose information was on the flash drive, 3,300 staff with surnames starting with letters P-Z had social insurance numbers included in the information spreadsheet. The remaining 5,700 employees had their names and employee numbers breached.

Eastern Health president David Diamond said they spent several days tearing apart their offices looking for the missing USB stick.

Eastern Health tasked 30 workers full-time to notify all the impacted employees of the breach. The extra labour, among other expenses, cost more than $100,000. Now, the president, Mr. Diamond, says there’s no need for concern.

“Employees can now be assured that their personal information was not at risk and that no further action is required to protect them against identify theft,” said Diamond in a release.

“We sincerely apologize for that. We certainly didn’t want to put them through undue stress,” added Molloy.

As a result of the incident, Diamond said that Eastern Health is strengthening its regulations around employee privacy. Social insurance numbers won’t be used as an employee identifier, and any employee requesting information will first have to answer a number of security questions.

Eastern Health said it is developing a more strict USB and portable media devices policy, and has plans to upgrade its anti-virus platform so that USB drives will be automatically encrypted.

PreviousNext

WP 900×150

WP 900x150

News and Trends

  • Quebec to invest nearly $1 billion in health IT
  • Seven Ontario organizations launch region-wide EHR system
  • Point-of-care lab technology speeds up bloodwork
  • Progress in e-mental health will require clinician training
  • Technology must be simple to use to solve complex problems
More from the Print Edition

Subscribe

Subscribe

Free of charge to Canadian hospital managers and executives in nursing homes and home-care organizations. Learn More

Follow us on Social Media!

Follow us on Social Media!

Infoway [May2022]

Infoway [May2022]

e-blasts 200×400

e-blasts 200x400

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Sectra best in KLAS

Sectra best in KLAS

Zebra [May2022]

Zebra [May2022]

SteraMist disinfection

SteraMist disinfection

MEDICA 2022

MEDICA 2022

WP 900×150

WP 900x150

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Sectra best in KLAS

Sectra best in KLAS

Zebra [May2022]

Zebra [May2022]

SteraMist disinfection

SteraMist disinfection

MEDICA 2022

MEDICA 2022

Contact Us

Canadian Healthcare Technology
1118 Centre Street, Suite 207
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L4J 7R9
Tel: 905-709-2330
Fax: 905-709-2258
info2@canhealth.com

  • Quick Links
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
    • Events
    • Vendors
    • About Us
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Writers’ Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Administrative Solutions
    • Clinical Solutions
    • Companies
    • Continuing Care
    • Diagnostics
    • Education & Training
  •  
    • Electronic Records
    • Government & Policy
    • Infrastructure
    • Innovation
    • People
    • Privacy and Security

© 2022 Canadian Healthcare Technology

The content of Canadian Healthcare Technology is subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Send all requests for permission to Jerry Zeidenberg, Publisher.

Search Site

Error: Enter a search term

  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us