The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is facing a public controversy after a donor pitch letter inadvertently exposed the former patients' Social Security numbers. The letter, which went out to about 6,000 former patients earlier this month, included a tracking code that integrated the SSN. The code was visible through the envelope window. Critics call the inclusion of the SSN a serious mishap, arguing that it could expose the 6,000 recipients to identity theft. UPMC denies that there's any major risk, but still sent out a letter to the 6,000 potential donors offering credit monitoring for one year to any of them that requested it.

To learn more about the mishap:
- read this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece [1]

PLUS:  UPMC president Jeffrey Romoff got a 17 percent raise in 2006, collecting $3.3 million for his efforts. Article [2]

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