VA Clinic In McAlester Loses Patient Data

Wednesday, November 1st 2006, 9:30 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Federal officials say they've lost computer disks containing the Social Security numbers and other personal information of about 1,400 veterans treated at a McAlester clinic.

The Veterans Affairs Hospital in Muskogee confirmed the loss in a letter mailed Tuesday to patients of the McAlester clinic.

The lost information includes patients' names, Social Security numbers, amount billed and amount paid for services they received at the outpatient clinic, which is contracted through the Choctaw Nation.

Hospital spokeswoman Nita McClellan says all three disks were mailed separately from the hospital to the clinic.

Hospital Director Adam Walmus says there's no indication the personal information has been misused.