HONOLULU -- Kauai police have been called in to help investigate a missing computer hard drive that contained the Social Security numbers and medical numbers of thousands of patients who have been treated at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

The Kauai hospital said it has lost a thumb drive containing personal information of all of its patients over the last 12 years. The backup drive, which is only two inches long and a half-inch wide, cannot be found.

The drive included names, addresses, Social Security numbers and medical record numbers.

"We were compelled to let people know. So, we sent out a letter to people whose names were on the disc and it totals 130,000 names," said Lani Yukimura, of Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Patients are being asked to call or e-mail the hospital to report any problems.

There's also information on the hospital's Web site to learn what people can do to protect themselves from fraud.

So far, the hospital said it's not aware that anyone has tried to use the information.

Yukimura stressed that no personal medical information was on the drive.

The missing information affects both residents and a number of out-of-state visitors who have used the center's emergency services.