Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center has disclosed that an unauthorized individual gained access to an employee’s email account and viewed protected health information. The incident was confirmed on February 27th of this year, as stated in a press release. It was determined that on January 18th, someone utilized software to access an email account containing patient information such as social security numbers, insurance and credit card numbers, banking information, and various forms related to patient health histories. The specific details of what was viewed by the unauthorized person are unknown at this time.
In response to the security breach, Bay Oral has taken several measures to enhance protections against hackers and unauthorized access. They have changed IT providers, implemented new policies and procedures to ensure patient health information is no longer stored in emails. Additionally, the center has sent out more than 10,000 notification letters to patients to inform them of the privacy incident.
While there is no evidence of improper use of the compromised information, Bay Oral is advising patients to remain vigilant and monitor for any signs of fraud or identity theft. Any suspected fraudulent activity should be reported to the individual’s financial institution, while cases of identity theft should be reported to law enforcement, the Wisconsin Attorney General, and the Federal Trade Commission.
For individuals with questions about the incident, Bay Oral has established a toll-free number at 1-800-360-0471. The helpline is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. If patients have concerns or require additional information, they are encouraged to contact the provided number.