Laptop lost by Navy Hospital bore patient info

A laptop computer containing personal information on 38,000 Pensacola Naval Hospital patients is missing, and hospital officials are warning affected patients to monitor their financial records for signs of identity theft.

The laptop, which disappeared sometime after Aug. 18, contained a database with the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of every patient who used the hospital's pharmacy in the last year, hospital officials reported.

The laptop did not contain patient medical records. But it contained disability ratings and spouse information for some patients.

Navy Capt. Maryalice Morro, the hospital commander, said there is no evidence the data has fallen into malicious hands. The computer had a broken screen and may have been disposed of, she said.

Still, officials are advising patients to monitor their bank accounts and credit card statements for suspicious activity, which may indicate their identity was stolen.

"While there is no evidence to suggest personal data has been compromised, it is the Department of the Navy's policy to apprise individuals whose personally identifiable information may be at risk," Morro said. "We regret any inconvenience or undue concern this may cause. We take this potential data compromise very seriously."

Rod Duren, Naval Hospital spokesman, said the hospital started sending notification letters Wednesday to all of the patients who have been affected. The letters, which will be mailed out over several days, contain information on how patients can protect themselves against identity theft.

Retired Navy Capt. Morris Hayes said he and his wife use the hospital pharmacy frequently. As of Thursday, they hadn't yet received notification of the possible data loss.

But he wasn't too worried about the information on the laptop being used by identity thieves.

"They obviously are a danger. You read about it every day," he said. But he added: "I'll tell you the truth, I'm not very much concerned. Nowadays, they want your Social Security number so many places, and it's on your ID card."

He said he'd never had a fraudulent charge to his credit card or had anyone illegally access his bank account.

"Either I'm pretty lucky, or it doesn't happen with the frequency that some people would lead you to believe," he said.