Posted On January 6, 2023 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
January 6, 2023 – Fitzgibbon Hospital filed notice of a data breach on December 30, 2022 with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights after determining that a security incident had leaked patient information of 112,072 individuals. According to the filing, patient information that was accessed included first and last names, Social Security numbers, financial account information, driver’s license numbers, medical information, and health insurance information. After confirming that there was a data leak, Fitzgibbon Hospital sent out notification letters to all individuals affected.
The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the data breach at Fitzgibbon Hospital. If you have received a breach notification, your information has likely been leaked to an unauthorized party. If you are interested in learning about what you can do to protect yourself and if you can receive financial compensation from Fitzgibbon Hospital, we are offering free consultations where we can discuss your legal options.
Fitzgibbon Hospital is a non-profit community hospital that provides services like family practice, OBGYN, emergency room, rehab, surgeries, diagnostic imaging, pain management, orthopedics, podiatry, rheumatology, and mental health. Originally founded in 1923 in Marshall, Missouri, Fitzgibbon Hospital now employs over 511 people and generates approximately $54 million in revenue annually. The hospital serves patients in Central Missouri and Saline County.
The information provided is from Fitzgibbon’s filing with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Civil Rights and the notice posted on the hospital’s website. According to the filing and notice, Fitzgibbon Hospital learned of unauthorized access to its computer system on June 6, 2022. The hospital began working with a third-party cybersecurity firm to investigate the attack and determine what information had been leaked. The investigation was concluded on December 1, 2022.
Fitzgibbon Hospital reviewed the files and determined that patients’ first and last names, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, medical information, health insurance information, and driver’s license numbers were leaked.
On December 30, 2022, Fitzgibbon Hospital sent out letters to all individuals whose sensitive information had been compromised. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, 112,072 patients were affected by the breach.
Hackers gained unauthorized access to Fitzgibbon’s computer system and leaked the information. Fitzgibbon Hospital was also a victim of the breach. They were also the ones responsible for securing the information. As a patient who has given and trusted Fitzgibbon hospital to keep your information secure, there is nothing you could have done to prevent this attack. The responsibility for such a task falls on Fitzgibbon. They are the first and last line of defense against hackers looking to steal your protected health information and prevent criminals from committing medical identity theft.
An investigation is ongoing into the particulars of the attack and whether there may have been negligence from Fitzgibbon in the attack. Negligence may include not taking the proper preventative measures, such as employee training to recognize and report phishing or keeping their cybersecurity up to date. If such evidence comes to light, you may be eligible for financial compensation from Fitzgibbon Hospital.
If you have received a notification letter that you are a victim of the data breach, it is crucial that you know your rights as a victim of the attack.
The consumer privacy lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. help customers affected by data and security breaches pursue legal solutions by offering free consultations. By explaining your rights in clear, concise terms, we help you make an informed decision about your next steps. If you are a victim of the Fitzgibbon Hospital data breach, Console & Associates, P.C. will investigate at no charge to you and offer advice on how to proceed. If you decide to pursue a case, rest assured that we don’t get paid unless you do. If your claim is successful, legal fees are either paid out of the funds recovered or by the defendant. If your claim is not successful, you pay nothing.
To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.
Below is a portion of the notice posted on their website:
Fitzgibbon Hospital is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of the information that it maintains.
On June 6, 2022, Fitzgibbon Hospital detected unauthorized access within our network environment. Upon learning of this issue, Fitzgibbon Hospital immediately launched a prompt and thorough investigation in consultation with outside cybersecurity professionals who regularly investigate and analyze these types of incidents. Though the investigation is ongoing, Fitzgibbon Hospital discovered on December 1, 2022 that some patients’ identifiable and/or protected health information may have been accessed and acquired in connection with this incident, including impacted individuals’ full names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, health insurance information, and/or medical information. This incident does not affect all Fitzgibbon Hospital patients and not all of these identifiers were included for all individuals.
To date, Fitzgibbon Hospital is not aware of any reports of improper use of any information as a direct result of this incident. Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, Fitzgibbon Hospital notified impacted patients whose contact information Fitzgibbon Hospital had on file on or about December 30, 2022. Patients whose Social Security numbers were impacted are being provided with complimentary credit monitoring services. The notification letter advised affected patients about the process for placing fraud alerts and/or security freezes on their credit files and obtaining free credit reports. The affected service recipients were also provided with the contact information for the consumer reporting agencies and the Federal Trade Commission.
At Fitzgibbon Hospital, protecting the privacy of personal information is a top priority. Fitzgibbon Hospital is committed to maintaining the privacy of information pertaining to its patients and have taken many precautions to safeguard it. Fitzgibbon Hospital continually evaluates and modifies its practices to enhance the security and privacy of its patients’ information, including the education and counseling of its workforce regarding patient privacy matters.
For individuals who have questions or need additional information regarding this incident, or to determine if they are impacted, Fitzgibbon Hospital has set up a toll-free number at 855-624-3697. This response line is staffed with professionals familiar with this incident and is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST (excluding major U.S. holidays).
