Large Drugstore Chains Must Rethink Patient Privacy

A recent investigative television report may lead to improved patient privacy measures at several large drugstore chains. According to the Houston Chronicle, an Indianapolis television station found thousands of confidential patient records in the trash bins located behind several major drugstores across the nation, including Walgreens, CVS, and Rite-Aid. The TV station, WTHR, began investigating these trash bins after a man posing as a pharmacy worker obtained the address of a patient using Oxycontin and went to her home in an attempt to steal her prescription from her.

Now, these major drugstore chains are looking into ways to improve patient security. Walgreens has begun locking its trash bins. CVS is has instituted a plan to collect all pharmacy trash and have it shipped back to CVS warehouses for disposal. Rite-Aid is shredding all confidential patient information in-store, or shipping it back to Rite-Aid warehouses.