No criminal charges in ProMedica Bay Park Hospital data breach

4-week probe into behavior of former employee inconclusive

Jamie Knapp

ProMedica Bay Park Hospital president Holly Bristoll, right, speaks as from left, Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre, Sgt. Kelly Thibert, and Assistant Chief Paul Magdich listen during a news conference at the Oregon Police Department concerning the outcome of a criminal investigation into a data breach at the hospital.

The former ProMedica Bay Park Hospital respiratory therapist who prompted local and federal investigations by accessing private patient information said she did nothing wrong and had permission to look at the files.

Jamie Knapp, 25, of Adrian, was employed as a respiratory therapist at Bay Park hospital when she accessed records of nearly 600 whom she wasn‘‍t treating. She was at the center of four-week criminal investigation conducted by the Oregon police department, which decided Friday it did not have enough evidence to prosecute Ms. Knapp.

Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre said at a news conference today that results of the investigation into the incident were inconclusive and police could not prove Ms. Knapp committed any criminal acts.

Jamie Knapp

Ms. Knapp, who was employed at the hospital until this past April said she asked permission from her supervisor to look at the patient records as a tool to help study for an upcoming state examination for respiratory therapists. She declined, however to give the name of the supervisor.

ProMedica spokesman Tedra White said the hospital has no record of such a request.

Ms. Knapp, who worked in the emergency department of the hospital, said after being granted permission she began looking at the records of patients that came to the emergency department for assistance.

ProMedica officials said Ms. Knapp accessed nearly 594 patient records between April 1, 2013, and April 1, 2014, while at Bay Park.

Hospital officials said they became suspicious of Ms. Knapp's behavior after co-workers reported observing her entering rooms of patients on March 25 and again on April 1 that she was not treating and removing containers full of used needles called sharps.

Hospital authorities confronted Ms. Knapp about her behavior and asked her to take a drug test, but she refused, quit, and walked out.

“We can't prove what the motive is -- can surmise but we can't prove that and often times that's the way investigations end. The detectives have a pretty good idea what was going on but they can't prove it,” Chief Navarre said.

The incident is also being investigated by the federal government to determine if HIPPA laws were violated. A spokesman for the U.S. of Health and Human Serivces, Department of Civil Rights said the federal investigation could take years to complete.