MIAMI – Jackson Health System released a statement Tuesday saying a hospital employee may have stolen confidential patient information over the past five years.
The information believed to have been stolen includes names, birth dates, Social Security numbers and home addresses.
"The employee was placed on administrative leave pending termination proceedings, and all of her access to Jackson systems, facilities and patient information was immediately revoked," the statement said.
Jackson said it has launched an investigation into the matter and said it is cooperating with law enforcement agencies regarding the employee, Evelina Reid.
"Jackson Health System is committed to patient confidentiality. The safety and security of our patients is top priority. In order to protect our patients' rights and private information, we enforce strict rules for those who handle patient information," the statement said. "We are already in the process of acquiring and implementing a more robust security system to monitor access to patient records."
A Jackson Memorial Hospital spokeswoman said Reid has been employed as a hospital unit secretary since 2005.
The Secret Service is leading the investigation into the claims made against Reid.
Anyone whose personal information was accessed will be notified by Jackson Health System and offered free credit monitoring.
Patients seeking more information about the breach should email privacyprotection@jhsmiami.org.