In early February, Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, announced that an unauthorized person had gained access to an employee’s email account and viewed protected health information. The breach occurred on January 18th when a software was used to access the account containing patient information such as social security numbers, insurance and credit card numbers, banking account information, and various forms related to patient health histories. It is not yet clear what specific information was accessed by the unauthorized person.
In response to the incident, Bay Oral has taken steps to enhance security measures by changing IT companies, increasing protections against hackers and unauthorized access, and implementing new policies and procedures to ensure that patient health information is not stored in emails. Although there has been no indication of improper use of the compromised information, Bay Oral is advising all patients to remain vigilant and monitor for any signs of fraud or identity theft. Any suspected fraudulent activity should be reported to financial institutions while incidents of identity theft should be reported to law enforcement, the Wisconsin Attorney General, and the Federal Trade Commission.
For questions regarding this incident, Bay Oral has established a toll-free number for patients to call: 1-800-360-0471. The helpline is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Copyright 2024 WBAY All rights reserved
