The initial cost to have documents scanned and stored digitally is high, and some claim that the same paper could be stored for 40 years at a records management company.  We would disagree with some of the author’s inflated cost figures for paper storage, but his points about determining which records are good candidates for scanning are spot on.  http://www.insidecounsel.com/2011/10/17/saving-paper-records-may-be-more-expensive-than-yo

$4.9 BILLION is a big number, which works out to $1000 for each account that was lost when a data tape was taken from a contractor’s car (see previous post).  The suit also seeks free credit monitoring.  The contractor, SAIC was not named…who’s got the deep pockets? http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2011/10/14/pentagon-hit-with-4-9b-class-action-lawsuit-over-data-breach.aspx

One reporter’s recent experience in the electronic initiative for medical records.  Doctors and hospitals have shared in a $19 BILLION program to go electronic with medical records via the Recovery Act and Affordable Care Act, but it seems there is much work to do before providers  are working together to enjoy the efficiencies envisioned. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-future-of-electronic-medical-records-in-one-doctors-visit/2011/10/04/gIQA1ufQNL_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_tech

A consultant’s car was broken into and a backup tape containing medical records of 4.9 million military patients was stolen in San Antonio in September. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/29/us-data-breach-texas-idUSTRE78S5JG20110929

A new study identifies the growing trend of data theft directed by hackers toward small business. Offers three policy suggestions to begin to move your company toward a more secure environment. Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bolt-publishes-infographic-offering-tools-to-mitigate-risk-of-rapidly-increasing-data-breaches-at-us-small-business-2011-09-27?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Storage Auction:  man buys medical records unknowingly when bidding on a defaulted storage unit. Link: http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Man-unknowingly-buys-medical-records,182269

One security consultant suggests that some data security breaches are not as harmful as others. Link: http://www.healthcareitnews.com/blog/are-we-obsessing-about-data-privacy

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved three bills intended to set national standards for breach notification when personal data is involved. The three bills will likely be reconciled into one before the full Senate takes up debate. Link: http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/panel-approves-data-breach-bills-despite-partisan-rancor-20110922