I hinited broadly at this several days ago, but St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center refused comment. Today, I got this statement from Margaret Preston at the hospital:
Several former employees of St. Vincent were dismissed from their jobs for inappropriately reviewing medical records of KATV Channel 7 news reporter Anne Pressly.
Pressly’s family was notified at the time of the incidents.
St. Vincent is committed to providing not only excellent health care to our patients, but also providing those patients with the assurance that everything possible will be done to protect their privacy during and after they receive care at a St. Vincent facility. Procedures are in place to monitor inappropriate access of patient information as required by federal law. All violations are subject to penalties up to and including dismissal of employees who violate those procedures.
Looks like the story will break in the daily press tomorrow. Though original reports to me said as many as 10 people had viewed the records, the hospital is now saying the number was around eight, while Pressly was still alive and in treatment in ICU. Apparently two were determined to have reasons to see the records. A undetermined number did not and were fired.
The next interesting question is how much to believe about details that leaked concerning the extent of her injuries and events that led to her death.