TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

You've got mail, but it's not for your eyes

ADVERTISEMENT

By SAMARA SODOS

slsodos@wfla.com

Published: October 30, 2009

Wait a minute, Mr. Postman.

That's all Philip Fortuna could think as he opened his mail Wednesday morning and saw the contents of a package sent to his Pinellas Park home from the U.S. Postal Service.

The medical bill on the top was addressed to him, but underneath was a stack of medical records belonging to dozens of people. The private information included copies of driver's licenses, surgery records, and Social Security numbers.

"I wouldn't want anyone looking at my medical records, period," said Fortuna. "It's disturbing, is what it is."

Most of the records came from the Largo Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Kris Richards, the company's chief executive officer, said the center's anesthetist mailed the package to its Tampa billing service, but it was never delivered.

"Largo Ambulatory Surgery Center is innocent in this," Richards said. "This happened at the postal service."

Richards will meet with the Office of the Inspector General this morning. She has been told the postal service will issue a statement that will include an apology. The center will also contact its clients to explain the situation, Richards said.

Upon learning of Fortuna's package of mystery medical records, the U.S. Postal Service responded within an hour to Fortuna's house to seize the mail and launch an investigation.

"Obviously the part where this gentleman got the mail that didn't belong to him is a mistake," said Gary Sawtelle, U.S. Postal Service spokesman for the Tampa Bay area.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT