More than 130,000 patients in Texas have been notified that their protected health information was compromised following a hack on the computer system of Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. (UHS) earlier this year. The sensitive personal data of these patients may now be in the hands of criminals looking to steal patients’ identities. Console & Associates, P.C., data breach lawyers, are investigating claims on behalf of current and former UHS patients, and urge customers affected by the breach to understand their legal rights.
On May 17, 2023, UHS of Delaware filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Texas after the security breach. Since UHS is a Pennsylvania-based healthcare system with over 400 facilities nationwide, it is possible that more patients across the country could have had their information exposed due to the data breach.
The data breach impacted patients who obtained care through UHS providers. However, it is possible that customers’ information may have been compromised, even if they did not get treatment at a UHS facility or are unsure whether UHS has their personal information.
The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes patients’ protected health information. Protected health information, also referred to as PHI, entails private details patients provide to their healthcare providers throughout treatment, as well as any information the provider learns about the patient. For instance, the following can all be regarded as PHI: names, addresses, social security numbers, medical record numbers, fingerprints, photographs, test results, prescribed medications, and insurance billing information.
Interestingly, UHS did not provide a specific list of the types of PHI that were impacted by the recent data security incident.
Patients who receive a data breach notice from UHS should take steps to protect themselves. Console & Associates, P.C. recommends contacting a data breach attorney immediately. Furthermore, those patients who received a data breach letter from UHS may be entitled to financial compensation. Further information about this data breach and potential lawsuits can be accessed at Console & Associates, P.C.
In most data breaches, firms offer free credit monitoring to victims. If UHS offers victims of the breach free credit monitoring and identity protection services, they should enroll in this service immediately. However, patients should know that one year of credit monitoring is not enough to protect them from the risks of a data breach.
Consumers must also protect their data. While data breaches are on the rise, consumers can take some steps to protect themselves from data breaches in healthcare. Patients can request a copy of their medical records from their healthcare providers periodically. Consumers must update their operating systems and antivirus and antimalware software regularly. Moreover, they should avoid public Wi-Fi when accessing their online medical records.
In conclusion, the data breach at UHS of Delaware initially impacted patients who received UHS Care in Texas, which has left over 130,000 patients thinking about the aftermath of a data breach and their medical privacy. Injury attorneys Console & Associates, P.C. will investigate the situation further to understand the legal rights of former and current UHS patients. Given the rise in data breaches, consumers must take drastic measures to protect their data, including updating their software, avoiding public WiFi, and accessing medical records.