A Colorado Springs nurse accused of accessing thousands of medical records says she did misuse the database but she did not misuse the information.

Authorities say Lori Niell accessed 2,500 medical records illegally, violating hospital policy.

"I admit that I looked up things like demographics on phone numbers of people who had already given them to me, and addresses for a birthday card and yes there were times I read medical information,” Niell said.

While Springs police will not say what they believe Niell was using the information for, she says the police accusations center around her other calling, as a psychic.

Niell says police told her they're investigating whether or not she used the Memorial Hospital database to search out new clients and contact them about scheduling a physic reading, even using the medical info to help her do readings.

"The bottom line is that I never misused any medical information,"she said.

Niell warns all of us that what she was doing happens a lot and that she's not the only one looking at what we think is private information.

"It's no defense to say it’s a common thing, and I’m not saying my coworkers in the medical field are bad people, it’s a human thing,” Niell said.

KKTV 11 News wanted to know exactly how the database works. Hospital spokesperson Brian Newsome says anyone given a password for the information has to have a medical, billing or operational reason to see it.

But Niell says that access means you can look at any of the records. Which is why she says police claim she accessed more than two thousand of them.

"I’m admitting that I did do some but those numbers are astronomical. Every time you search a name it creates a drop down menu, a list of names, this is claiming all of those were accessed," she said.

Memorial says patients who were affected are being notified.

Memorial has created a task force to increase security they are also looking into software systems that can spot unusual activity.

Niell resigned from her position in May. No criminal charges have been filed against her at this time.