BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

The Hillsborough County Health Department recently changed the way methods are printed. The purpose of the change follows on the heels of a breach of security.

Steve Huard, Public Information Officer for the Hillsborough County Health Department said, the information was removed from the facility on or about February 15, 2012, by an employee.

However, the department became aware of the potential breach on May 25, 2012. Huard said a small police department in Georgia made a traffic stop and arrested a couple in the vehicle. As the officers searched the car, they discovered the illegally obtained documents. He declined to provide the names of the individual suspect because the case was forwarded to a federal law enforcement agency for investigation.

However, he did say the employee was dismissed.

Huard said once the department was notified, the 311 individuals whose information may have been compromised were immediately contacted.

He stated that although no financial information was taken, information such as the person’s full name, date of birth, social security number, and patient identification number were included in the printout.

In addition to letters, the individuals were also offered a year of credit monitoring for those affected.

Huard said this is the first time, since he became an employee that something of this nature has happened. He further said that preventative measures. The employees can no longer print out the person’s personal information.

“They can print about as much information that goes on a mailing label, which is very general, such as the name and address of the person.

Huard said the State of Florida, the Florida Department of Health, and the Hillsborough County Health Department are fully committed to safeguarding all confidential information.