(Columbus) Officials with the Columbus Community Hospital are offering patients who may have been affected by a recent data breach free access to fraud consultation and identity theft restoration services.
A company called “O-S,” which provides claims management services to Columbus Community Hospital, announced that an email phishing scam may have resulted in unauthorized access to personal information contained within an OS employee’s email account.
On April 8, Columbus Community Hospital was notified by OS that their patient’s personal identifying information may have been vulnerable during the incident. It is not clear if information specific to Columbus Hospital patients was actually viewed by anyone.
The data that may have been revealed generally included: individual names, hospital account number, name of insurer, summary of charges and category of service. For a limited number of individuals, social security numbers, in the form of insurance identification numbers, may have been impacted; although the particular data at issue varied by patient.
At this time, there is no evidence of any actual or attempted misuse of the information accessible within the email account. No financial account information was impacted as a result of this event.
Upon learning of the incident, hospital officials say OS immediately secured the email account in question. OS also reviewed existing policies and procedures, implemented additional safeguards, and will continue working to further secure the information in its systems.
Hospital CEO John Russell says they take the privacy and security of its patient information very seriously, and they will continue to ensure that OS does all that it can do to work with patients whose personal information may have been compromised and help them work through the process.
The company began sending information about free access to fraud consultation and identity theft services last week and have established a toll-free line for assistance.
Patients may call the toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-866-775-4209, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with any questions. In addition, affected individuals may also submit any questions about this incident by mail directed to OS: PO Box 311, Pewaukee, WI 53072. Pewaukee, WI 53072. Patients may also directly contact Andrea Link, Privacy Officer at CCH by calling 1-920-623-2200 with any questions related to this incident.
