Lindsay Whitehurst

Jun. 26, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A theft of billing records affected fewer University Hospital patients than originally thought, a spokesman said Wednesday, but a notification letter won't reach some whose personal information was stolen.

The letter will go out to about 1.5 million patients whose billing records, some with Social Security numbers, were stolen from a storage company employee's personal vehicle on June 3. Original estimates had put the number of people affected at 2.2 million. Hospital officials lowered the estimate by eliminating dead patients and duplicate entries, University Hospital spokesman Christopher Nelson said. But an unknown number of the names were eliminated because there is no valid address for the records, some of which go back 16 years.

To reach patients with an undeliverable address, Nelson encouraged anyone who thinks they might be affected to call a hot line at 866-581-3599, especially if they do not receive a letter by July 1, when delivery should be complete.

Not one of the patients has reported being a victim of identity theft in the three weeks since the hospital announced the theft, he said.

The most vulnerable people are those who used a Social Security number for billing. Possession of that number makes it possible for thieves to steal identities. About 953,000 patients fall into that group.

Another 230,000 patients' records were stolen, but those records don't include their Social Security numbers. Those people will get a different version of the letter, stating their information was stolen but they are not at a high risk of identity theft.

Minor's records also were among those stolen, and 93,000 included Social Security numbers. Emancipated minors, 6,800 of whom gave Social Security numbers, also will get letters.

Nelson urged people not to give out personal information about their records over the phone or by e-mail. True hospital officials will only ask for information to confirm an appointment.

"Don't responded to something you haven't initiated," he said.

As for the theft itself, police have no new leads.

lwhitehurst@sltrib.com

Find out

For information about University of Utah Hospital patient record theft, call 866-581-3599.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0192-26248841