On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 11:28 AM, Roach, Bill <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> >> My question is if data was lost that covered that wide a span of time
> (19 YEARS) how much data was it? Data on 4.9 million patients that spans
> that long a period of time STORED ON TAPE had to involve a LOT OF TAPES...<<
>
> Maybe...then again it may only be a backup copy of patient contact and
> insurance information.  Data of this type is routinely retained by medical
> facilities.  Then again, there may have been much more information included.
>  However, lots of stuff does not automatically equate to lots of tapes.
>  Super High Density tapes can hold a bunch of data.  I recall reading
> something several years ago about a Sony technology that would enable
> storage of a TB per tape.  I am sure capacity has been increased since then.
>

From the article:

The information was contained on backup tapes from an electronic health care
record used in the military health system to capture patient data from 1992
through Sept. 7 2011.The information may include Social Security numbers,
addresses and phone numbers, and some personal health data such as clinical
notes, laboratory tests and prescriptions, the release stated.

"Patient data" and "clinical notes, laboratory tests and prescriptions"
indicated it went a lot deeper- and this type of info on 4.9M peeps would
tend me to believe there would be a LOT of data...

But the article DID SAY "The information MAY INCLUDE..."

So who knows?

Larry


-- 
*Lawrence J. Medina
Danville, CA
RIM Professional since 1972*

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