Chinese hack hospital data

Patients now have a lot more than biological threats to worry about when they check in to a hospital.

The new worry: Chinese hackers.

Community Health Systems, the hospital company that acquired Naples-based Health Management Associates and its 71 hospitals earlier this year, says Chinese hackers stole information on 4.5 million patients.

The hackers made off with patient names, addresses, birthdates, telephone numbers and Social Security numbers.

Community Health says it is notifying patients of the theft and says it's implementing a program to prevent future thefts.

The company didn't outline specifics of its remediation program in its filing with securities regulators, but patients might want to keep an eye on their credit reports.