HARRIS – An employee of Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris was fired because she looked at 431 patient files for which she did not have permission.

“She was nosey,” said hospital President Steven Ruwoldt said Thursday. There was no malicious intent, he said of the woman, who worked in the medical records department. The files she accessed were those of acquaintances and coworkers, he said. “We have no evidence indicating that any of the information accessed was utilized for personal gain or harm,” Ruwoldt said.

When the problem was discovered through a routine audit, the woman who he would not identify was fired. That was back in November, but since then, the computer records system has been scrutinized with all of the violated patient cases being found.

As a result, the hospital sent letters to all of those patients on Wednesday, informing them of the situation.

The “inappropriate access” violated both a HIPAA electronic privacy and the hospital’s zero tolerance to any inappropriate behavior, said Ruwoldt.

No criminal charges were filed against the former employee.