Tenet Healthcare Corp (NYSE: THC) Identity Theft By Ex-Employee May Affect 40,000 Patients

Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) has mailed letters to 40,000 patients at 54 hospitals nationwide that their personal information including social security numbers may have been stolen by an ex-employee, Terrance Brooks, at Tenet's billing center in Frisco, Texas. 

Terrance Brooks, convicted of this identity theft crime had access to Tenet's billing systems which stored patient's personal data including birth data and social security numbers.  According to some news reports, the Brooks was arrested on November 25 after attempting to open a credit card account at a Costco store.  In his possession were data records on 90 patients.  Tenet called those patients immediately and has taken the precautionary step of informing the 40,000 patients who's data could have been accessed by Brooks during his employment.

No company can prevent 100% of insider attacks on their information systems or data by employees.  However, companies can do more and increase their employee education, monitoring, and implement stronger policies and controls to ensure that these types of incidents are minimized.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpfraud0214sbfeb14,0,42801.story

Darkreading
http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=146095