A hospital employee who allegedly provided a patient's medical condition that was then posted to Facebook has been fired, according to news reports.
A posting on the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's website states the worker, a financial services staffer, who reportedly shared a woman's diagnosis of syphilis to the patient's ex-boyfriend, was terminated from employment.
The medical information was published on Facebook, on a page in a group called "Team No Hoes," and included screenshots of records.
"We are outraged that anyone might misuse a position with UC Health to attempt to embarrass or cause harm to another person. This is contrary to our ethic and the training we provide to our associates, and we took immediate action as a result," wrote UC Medical Center President Lee Ann Liska in the statement.
The hospital also stated it did not find anyone else on staff involved in the incident.
The patient has filed a lawsuit against two hospital employees, the hospital and the ex-boyfriend who has been identified in news reports as Raphael Bradley. The patient's lawsuit names Ryan Rawls, who was employed by UC Medical Center and another unnamed staffer, and states the center showed negligence in employee supervision.
In a memo to employees last week, UC Medical Center CEO Lee Ann Liska issued a response:
"(W)e take the privacy and safety of our patients very seriously. While the allegations are isolated to the people named in the lawsuit and by no means reflect the conduct of UCMC associates, who are dedicated to serving thousands of patients annually and safeguarding their PHI (or personal health information), I would like to remind everyone that the unauthorized access or viewing of medical records, or the unauthorized sharing of PHI, is a serious violation of federal medical privacy laws and regulations and cause for immediate termination."
The patient is suing for more than $25,000 citing damages for emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy and malice.
"We are outraged that anyone might misuse a position with UC Health to attempt to embarrass or cause harm to another person. This is contrary to our ethic and the training we provide to our associates, and we took immediate action as a result. The allegations in the recent lawsuit are isolated to the people named in the lawsuit, and by no means reflect the conduct of UC Medical Center associates, who are dedicated to serving thousands of patients annually and safeguarding the personal health information that has been entrusted to them. All associates have been reminded that the unauthorized access or viewing of medical records, or the unauthorized sharing of PHI, is a betrayal of that trust, and cause for immediate termination," states the hospital's press statement.
