One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
660 Patient Names, Medical Records Stolen From Rehab Center
A laptop stolen last month from a rehab center in Downey contained more than 660 patient names and medical records, health officials revealed on Friday, reports KTLA.
The computer, reported stolen on February 24 from Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, housed names, D.O.B. and diagnostic information for at least 667 patients. Michael Wilson of the County Department of Health Services said the records were not encrypted and that patients were sent letters about the theft.
The machine was hooked up to diagnostic neuromuscular equipment at the time of the disappearance, notes KTLA. In an attempt to avoid future privacy issues, the hospital has reportedly started a review of its portable devices. Anyone with questions or information about the breach is asked to call the county at (877) 726-2461,
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
