Cancer Care Northwest, of Spokane, announced Monday a notebook with patient information was lost.

The notebook contained handwritten notes, and included the names of patients, their dates of birth, and their assigned identification numbers, though not Social Security numbers. Patient diagnosis and treatment information was also included.

The cancer center became aware of the loss on June 19.

"We did an exhaustive search," Chelsea Newman, a spokeswoman for the cancer center, said Monday.

The center treats thousands of people from Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Western Montana.

"We have less than 200 patients from the northern Idaho area who have been affected," Newman said.

The cancer center said in the announcement that no personal financial information was in the notebook.

The center consists of 30 physicians and serves patients in eight location in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area.

The center collaborates with Kootenai Health, and has clinics in Coeur d'Alene, at 700 W. Ironwood Drive; and Post Falls, at 1440 E. Mullan Ave., at Kootenai Health's facilities.

Cancer Care Northwest said it will contact any affected patients by mail.

In the announcement, the center said all employees have been required to receive additional training on handling protected health information.

"We are also reminding our employees that all protected health information is to be kept only in our electronic medical record and have asked that they not use personal notes or notebooks to record patient information," the center said in the announcement. "We sincerely apologize for the stress or worry this may cause (patients)."