Geisinger Health System discovered a data breach involving the personal information of over one million patients.
The breach was traced back to a former employee of Nuance Communications Inc., an external vendor providing IT services to Geisinger.
The ex-employee accessed the data just two days after being terminated.
Upon this discovery, Geisinger promptly notified Nuance, permanently revoking the former employee’s access to their records.
An immediate investigation was launched, and law enforcement was engaged to handle the situation.
Nuance’s investigation revealed that the former employee might have accessed and taken various personal details of Geisinger patients.
The compromised information included names, dates of birth, addresses, medical record numbers, phone numbers, and other sensitive data.
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However, no financial information, Social Security numbers, or insurance details were accessed.
Law enforcement requested Nuance to delay notifying the affected patients to avoid impeding their investigation.
The former employee has since been arrested and is now facing federal charges.
Geisinger’s Chief Privacy Officer, Jonathan Friesen, expressed his concern and regret over the incident. “Our patients’ and members’ privacy is a top priority, and we take protecting it very seriously,” Friesen stated.
“We continue to work closely with the authorities on this investigation, and while I am grateful that the perpetrator was caught and is now facing federal charges, I am sorry that this happened.”
Geisinger has begun notifying the affected patients and is urging them to review the information provided in the notice.
Patients are encouraged to contact the dedicated support line at 855-575-8722, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding major U.S. holidays.
The engagement number B124651 should be provided when calling.
Additionally, patients are advised to carefully review their health plan statements and report any unauthorized services to their health insurer immediately.
This proactive approach aims to mitigate any potential misuse of the compromised data.
Geisinger remains committed to safeguarding patient information and is taking all necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
The collaboration with law enforcement and ongoing investigation underscores their dedication to maintaining the trust and security of their patient’s personal information.
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