Laptop theft may affect 3,900 Beth Israel patients

About 3,900 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center patients will be getting letters alerting them that some of their personal health information may have been breached after a physician's personal laptop computer was stolen from a hospital office.

The theft occurred May 22, hospital officials said Friday, and the stolen laptop, which contained a tracking device, has not been recovered.

Police were notified and a suspect has been arrested in the case, the officials said.

The hospital hired a national forensic firm to investigate whether data were compromised, and it has found no indication that any information has been misused, according to the hospital. more....