Human error to blame for releasing patients' information, audit says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An internal audit by Mecklenburg County found human error caused the release of 2,000 patients' sensitive, personal information at the Health Department. It also laid out a plan of action for the county.

The report recommends that "Management update and develop as necessary formal, documented department-level and countywide public records request procedures."

[Health Dept. moves forward after failing to notify patients of test results]

This happened in March when the county revealed the Health Department failed to notify nearly 200 women about abnormal Pap smear results.

The department mistakenly released the personal information of the 2,000 patients to Channel 9 after a request for information about that Pap smear investigation.

Channel 9 chose not to publish the information.

The department of internal audit said it plans to do a follow-up review to make sure the action plan is being put into place correctly.

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