The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing released a press release on July 26 stating that the institution had informed 1655 patients of a potential privacy violation. Tyler Greer reported that a study recruitment postcard sent to patients inadvertently shared protected health information (PHI).
WBRC’s digital staff reported that the postcard was intended to encourage participation in a survey related to a breast cancer diagnosis. The mailing reportedly displayed the patient’s first and last name and address and inferred a diagnosis.
An apology was extended to the affected patients, informing them about the nature of the breach and the information at risk, wrote Greer.
“UAB takes the protection of our patients’ and study participants’ privacy and information very seriously,” the letter to the patients read, according to Greer. “Please know that appropriate actions have and will continue to be taken to prevent this type of incident from occurring in the future.”
