Medical assistant charged with stealing patient information

HARRISBURG >> A Philadelphia woman who worked as a medical assistant at various Montgomery County health clinics has been charged with stealing patient information for financial gain.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrest of Ashley Latimer, 34, who formerly worked at Axia Women’s Health, a national health provider that has its Pennsylvania headquarters in Oaks.

Latimer allegedly used the information she collected from patient records and driver’s licenses to open credit cards, purchase items, and lease apartments, according to a press release.

“This defendant is accused of taking advantage of her position and violating her trust and responsibility as a medical professional,” Shapiro said in the release. “We will not, under any circumstance, allow individuals to put patients at risk and compromise our Commonwealth’s health care systems.”

An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found that Latimer used her cell phone to take photos of patient information forms and licenses while working at Axia Women’s Health locations. She then used this information to open credit cards and spend more than $31,000 on purchases from Wayfair, an online furniture company, among other things.

Latimer is charged with 27 counts of identity theft, seven counts of theft, four counts of computer theft and one count of forgery.

The press release did not list the specific Montgomery County Axia Women’s Health locations the defendant worked at. The company has 200 women’s health centers across several states, many located in southeastern Pennsylvania.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Katherine McDermott.