A Michigan hospital has recovered a laptop computer that was stolen with a Home Care nurse’s car on Aug. 5 in Detroit. “We are so relieved to recover the laptop so that we can put our patients’ minds at rest,” says Chris Hengstebeck, director of Security at Beaumont Hospital in Troy.”

The computer contains personal and health information of Home Care patients served over the past three years, but did not have any information on inpatients or outpatients of Beaumont.

The computer’s hard drive was examined by an independent forensic computer expert and it has been determined that patient information on the computer was not accessed during the time it was missing. “We are relieved that no one’s personal or medical information was accessed,” Hengstebeck added.

Home Care staff use laptop computers to document patient care. The data on the stolen laptop includes patient names, addresses, birth dates, medical insurance information, Social Security numbers and personal health information related to their home care services. Home Care laptop computers are encrypted and password protected. However, in this instance, as a new employee in orientation, the nurse’s ID access code and password were with the stolen computer.

After learning of the stolen laptop, Beaumont Security worked with police in investigating the theft and pursuing recovery of the computer. During this time, Beaumont officials also communicated with patients through a letter, arranged credit reporting services, a hot line and a Web site for patients, and reviewed and strengthened computer security systems and processes. Home Care patients can enroll in a credit reporting service at Beaumont’s expense for one year.