Many hospitals have been impacted by a natural disaster that has affected Waupaca, WI-based STAT Informatics Solutions, LLC.
STAT provides secure medical record services to a number of healthcare providers. Some the the services include scanning paper files so they can be incorporated into hospital medical record systems.
On March 3, 2020, a STAT center in Lebanon, TN was struck by a tornado, which caused widespread damage to the building and some of the records stored in the center. STAT contacted all affected clients the same day, and representatives of those healthcare providers visited the site to help out with locating and securing medical records in the center.
A tall fence was constructed around the building while the medical records were found and secured. Two security guards were also positioned on site 24/7 to prevent unauthorized people from entering the building.
Most of the medical records were located in the rubble of the building, but the records were determined to be beyond rescue and have now been securely destroyed.
While there is a chance that unauthorized individuals may have viewed some paperwork relating to patients, no proof has been found to suggest that was the case and patients are not believed to be at risk of financial harm. As a precautionary measure, patients whose records were stored in the building are being notified by mail and will be offered free credit monitoring services.
The medical records at the facility included the following types of information: Full names, Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, medical record numbers, account numbers, medical images, diagnoses, nursing and physician documentation, test results, medications, and other types of information typically found in medical records.
The following healthcare companies have confirmed they were impacted by the incident.
- Bayfront Health Port Charlotte, FL
- Bayfront Health Punta Gorda, FL
- Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, PA (518 records)
- Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital, PA (1,905 records)
- Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, MO (1,619 records)