Employee Charged With Theft of Patient Information

Authorities say a Chicago hospital worker has been charged with stealing patients' credit card information to pay her own bills.

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez announced the charges Monday against 35-year-old Shatina Golden of Matteson. Golden worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for four years.

Prosecutors say police began investigating suspicious credit card activity tied to Golden's water bill. Computer records showed payments being made from her home or from the hospital.

Victims were hospital patients and some were being treated for cancer. Police found patients' personal information when they executed a search warrant at Golden's home.

A phone message left for Golden wasn't immediately returned. It's unclear whether she has an attorney.

She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.