KFDM News has learned police in Houston are investigating the theft of two computer back-up tapes containing the names and personal information of hundreds, and perhaps thousands of patients in the Christus Health Care system, including some in Beaumont and Port Arthur, as well as patients from other hospitals and doctors' offices.

A spokeswoman for the hospital system tells KFDM News someone broke into an associate's car in a Houston parking lot and took the tapes.

The spokeswoman says there is no indication the thief was going after the tapes and it would be very difficult to gain access to the information.

The spokeswoman says the tapes contain about four percent of the names of patients from the past couple of years who pay by installment or who owe money. That includes Christus patients here as well as in Houston, Louisiana, Utah, Arkansas and Mexico, and some patients outside the Christus System.

The information includes patient names, social security numbers, demographic information, and in some cases, diagnosis codes.

The hospital system says it sincerely regrets that the incident occurred and has begun new security measures to prevent this from happening in the future.

The hospital system says you should monitor your credit files if you believe your personal information is in the missing tapes.

If you have any questions call 1-800-877-9056 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.