BMJ  2007;335:112 (21 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.39272.674306.BE

Letters

Using healthcare data

Security protection is needed when using USB sticks

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Current working hours for junior staff mean that effective patient handovers are critical. Handwritten sheets have been superseded by electronic storage of patient data available to the clinical team.¹

Universal serial bus (USB) sticks have greater security risks than other media due to their size, storage capacity, and convenience. Trust policy states that confidential data should be stored on 128-bit encrypted USB sticks, with "if found" labels on them, and be used solely on the trust's computers.

Criminals now recognise the value of personal data in the growing identity theft market. Recently confidential patient data held on an unprotected USB stick were stolen. The trust had to inform the patient and face liability for distress or damage caused, along with public condemnation (D Terry, personal communication, July 2007). In addition, clinical information is lost permanently, and there is the financial cost of replacing equipment.

I asked 50 junior doctors about . . . [Full text of this article]

Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, Nottingham NG7 2UH

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