Wisconsin breach potentially impacts 43K

Beth Walsh | | Health Exec | Cybersecurity
A computer virus is the cause of a data breach impacting 43,000 patients of Froedtert Health, based in Milwaukee, Wis. The organization informed patients that the virus left patients’ data vulnerable in December, 2012, according to TMJ4 news. The virus may have allowed someone to access patient files through a staff member's computer.

While the patient files may have contained patient names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, medical record numbers, names of health insurers, diagnoses and clinical information, which data have been inappropriately accessed has yet to be determined. According to TMJ4, Froedtert Health said that fewer than three percent of the files might have contained Social Security numbers.

A letter to Froedtert patients said four of its locations were affected by the potential breach.

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

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