On March 10, 2023, Beacon Health System posted a notice of data breach after learning that an employee was accessing patient files containing confidential data without authorization. Based on the company’s statement, the incident resulted in an unauthorized party gaining access to consumers’ names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and protected health information. After confirming that consumer data was leaked, Beacon began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals who were impacted by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification from Beacon Health System, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve previously discussed in related posts, healthcare data breaches put some of your most sensitive information in the hands of the hackers who orchestrated the attack. As a result, your risk of experiencing identity theft and other frauds is dramatically increased. Contact a data breach lawyer to learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft and what your legal options are in the wake of the Beacon Health System data breach.
What We Know So Far About the Beacon Health System Breach
News of the Beacon Health System data breach is still fresh; however, what we know at this point comes from a “Notice of Data Privacy Event” posted on the school’s website. According to this source, on January 10, 2023, Beacon learned that an employee “may have been inappropriately accessing patient records.” On February 20, 2023, Beacon formally determined that the employee obtained unauthorized access to patients’ files. The period of unauthorized access was between November 19, 2018 and February 24, 2023.
In response, Beacon launched an investigation to determine what information was subject to unauthorized access and which information was accessed. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and protected health information. More specifically, the Beacon data breach letter indicates that the former employee may have accessed clinical information, including diagnoses, emergency care treatment information, labs and diagnostic testing, operative and anesthesia documentation, as well as ancillary clinical documentation and medical history.
On March 10, 2023, Beacon Health System sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.
More Information About Beacon Health System
Founded in 2011, Beacon Health System is a healthcare management company based in South Bend, Indiana. Beacon operates over 160 locations throughout Indiana and Michigan, providing a range of services, including cancer care, pediatrics, family medicine, OB/GYN, urgent care, and more. Beacon also operates several emergency rooms, including those located at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Elkhart General Hospital, Community Hospital of Bremen, Beacon Granger Hospital and Three Rivers Hospital. Beacon Health System employs more than 6,951 people and generates approximately $919 million in annual revenue.
