The news on patient information breaches gets stranger every day. In an article over at Pensacola News Journal (pnj.com), 2 ex-employees are being sued for stealing patient information. Sight and Sun Eyeworks Gulf Breeze are suing a former physician and office manager for stealing patient information and trying to switch patients to the new practice that both are working for.
Sight and Sun Eyeworks is suing Dr. Suzanne M. Day and Lynette Bramlett, both of whom worked at the Sight and Sun Eyeworks office and quit without notice in May, according to a lawsuit filed in the Santa Rosa County Courthouse on May 30.
Day and Bramlett, an office manager, left Sight and Sun Eyeworks to work for a competing optometry office, according to the suit. At their new office, Day and Bramlett used patient data or “trade secrets” improperly taken from Sight and Sun Eyeworks to solicit patients, the suit alleges.
Patients were being notified that their scheduled appointments were being moved to another practice
“Multiple patients have contacted Sight and Sun … and have stated that appointments they had previously made during the month of May 2013 with Sight and Sun … were changed by Day and Bramlett, or their employees, to occur in the month of June 2013 at their new offices,” according to the suit. “Day and Bramlett have informed Sight and Sun … patients that Day will continue their healthcare at her new location, effectively stealing these patients.”
9,000 Patients Notified
Breach notification letters were sent to 9,000 patients informing them that their information had been breached. Information included names, address, social security numbers and treatment information.
[framed_box bgColor=”#ffd390″]In the legal notices, Sight and Sun Eyeworks said the information is being used solely to offer medical services.
“However, patients should closely monitor their credit card, bank and other financial statements for signs of fraud and identity theft,” according to the notice.
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