Orthodontist's computers, patient data stolen

An orthodontist based in Florissant, MO, has notified 10,000 patients that their personal information is at risk after the practice's computers were stolen during a July 22 break-in, according to an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Patient health information also was compromised by the burglary, which occurred at Olson & White Orthodontics. The law firm hired by the practice said that it has not been made aware of patients' personal information being stolen or used illegally.

Federal privacy laws require that patients be informed of the data loss within 60 days of the occurrence; letters went out last week informing patients after an investigation determining who was impacted was completed, a representative of the law firm stated.

Personal information such as names, addresses, x-rays, and diagnostic findings was lost, the article noted. Names, emails, Social Security numbers, and credit scores of parents or insured parties also were lost.

Although the computers were password-protected, the data may still be extracted, the article noted.