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An intense investigation is underway by the Utah Attorney General's office and hospitals across the state, after KSL found medical records lying in a recycling dumpster.
The company responsible asked a judge to stop KSL from bringing you the story, but didn't succeed.
Thousands of medical files in an American Fork dumpster spurred an immediate investigation by Deputy Attorney General Richard Hamp.
Deputy Attorney General Richard Hamp: "Too many to count, medical records in an open dumpster."
University of Utah hospital spokesman Christopher Nelson says they're also investigating. "We will take very aggressive steps to make sure we find out where these documents came from."
IHC soon followed. Files, x-rays and ultrasounds from radiology departments were being sent to an American Fork sorting facility. The x-rays were taken out of folders to be recycled for silver, but the files went into the dumpster.
Utah Hospital Association spokeswoman Jill Vicory: "Most likely it's gong to be a social security number, name and also it could possibly have information regarding their insurance number."
She says they are required to recycle the x-rays, and many choose a company that sends the materials to American Fork.
We went to the sorting plant called Affinity Services and found the owner. When asked if the x-rays come from Utah, he responded that they come from "all over the country."
So why are all these medical files being left outside in an unlocked dumpster?
"It could have happened when they came and dumped it that morning and we just didn't get the lock back on there on time."
We told the owner we visited this dumpster a half dozen times over several weeks, it was never locked.
He did agree that it would be worrisome if identity thieves were to find a dumpster like that.
He did say they would secure the dumpster. A lock was put on it, and the dumpster was moved inside.
Jill Vicory: "The good news is that we haven't heard of any of those records being inappropriately used."
Richard Hamp: "It would not surprise me at all to find out identity thieves have been in this dumpster. I don't know for sure, but that is a common occurrence amongst identity thieves is to check trash dumpsters."
University Hospital and IHC say they've suspended contracts to keep files from ending up here, but Hamp says they don't know how many thousands of files have been dumped unprotected. Many of Utah's hospitals, doctors offices, and clinics have been sending files here for years.
