Safeguarding identity: Tips to stave off a growing problem

With identity theft booming, physicians need to take precautions for themselves and their patients. Here's how.

By Katherine Vogt, AMNews staff. June 26, 2006.

All the necessary information was in her file. Her Social Security number, the number from her driver's license, and other identification numbers were catalogued so Rebecca Patchin, MD, could be credentialed to practice in a multidisciplinary pain treatment program.

The file seemed like a routine business matter -- until Dr. Patchin was informed someone posed as her to open utility accounts and get a credit card, racking up nearly $5,000 in bills. Dr. Patchin was told an employee, since fired, had used the information in the file to steal the Riverside, Calif., anesthesiologist's identity. (Dr. Patchin filed a police report against the ex-employee, but said she did not know how the case was resolved.)

Six years later, Dr. Patchin, an AMA trustee, is still dealing with the fallout. Incorrect information keeps popping up on her credit report.

Still, she feels lucky that more damage was not done, especially because the woman had access to the physician's professional identity. "I was fortunate she was not a more sophisticated criminal."

Identity theft has become a nationwide concern. Because physician offices tend to be harbors of sensitive information, not only about the doctors but about thousands of patients, they are often targeted.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 255,565 reports of identity theft in 2005, up from 246,847 in 2004 and 215,177 in 2003. In 2005, identity theft constituted 37% of all fraud reports, by far the greatest category of such an offense.