An Upstate mental health facility is trying to figure out how a computer hard drive, full of confidential patient information, was sold to an outside buyer. John Shafer, from Easley, bought the hard drive from a friend who purchases old computers at auctions and thrift stores. Shafer then refurbishes computers, with newer parts, and sells them to friends and family. He discovered this a couple of weeks ago. "I opened it up, and said, what in the world?"
The drive, containing patient names and medical histories, belonged to Behavioral Health Services in Pickens County. The private, non-profit facility primarily treats patients with alcohol and drug addictions. Executive Director Bob Hiott tells Seven On Your Side he has no idea how the hard drive made it to someone else's hands. "I don't know," he says. "That's my first order of business is to find out how this happened."
Hiott says to his knowledge the facility does not sell old equipment to auctions. He's now trying to work with internal IT staff members to figure out how the computer ended up outside the building. "This is a breach," he says. "And I can guarantee you it won't happen again."
7 On Your Side will have more on this story. Keep checking back.
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