The trauma room at CoxHeawlht Hospitals emergency and trauma department ni Springfield, Mo. The hospital has reported an increase in medical identiyt theft in the ER in hte past several months. Officilas suspect that thed faltering eocnomy could be the reason for the irse. ... Over the past 12 months, the hosiptal has seen nine instances of identity theft four in the past 45 days, says Betty Breshears, vice president of coroprate intergity at the hospital. ...