MARTINSBURG, W.Va. A former employee of Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg is being prosecuted in connection with the theft of protected health information of at least 113 former hospital patients, a WVU Medicine University Healthcare official said Friday.

The hospital system said in a news release on Friday that it recentlynotified a total of 7,445 patients of a breach of unsecured personal patient protected health information after discovering that an employee had accessed patient information without authorization.

The female employee, who has been terminated, was not identified.

Police found copies of drivers licenses with photos, ID cards, insurance cards and/or Social Security cards in the former employees possession, University Healthcare said. The hospital system said it has since tracked her computer system access and determined that in some instances she also viewed physician orders containing diagnoses and other medical information.

University Healthcare officials became aware on Jan. 17 of an FBI and local law enforcement investigation into the unauthorized access, use and disclosure of personal information contained on the electronic systems of University Healthcare by the hospital employee.

An internal investigation by the hospital led to the discovery of a connection between the employee and 113 former patients.

The employee was suspended and then terminated as a result of her illegal conduct, the healthcare system said..

The unauthorized access of patient information began no earlier than March 1, 2016, but is presumed to have continued until the former employee was suspended, the healthcare system said.

The investigation led to the discovery that the female employee inappropriately removed the patient information by handwriting it onto paper and carrying it off the premises, the hospital system said.

While the criminal investigation is still ongoing, authorities have confirmed that 113 of the 7,445 individuals are victims of identity theft and all 113 confirmed victims have been contacted by law enforcement, the hospital system said.

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WVU Healthcare notifies patients of personal information breach - Herald-Mail Media