Clarke County Hospital Hit with Security Breach

The security breach led to over 26,000 individuals’ private health information being accessed

By HFT Staff


Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, IA, has recently started notifying 28,003 current and former patients about a security breach that exposed some of their protected health information. Suspicious activity was detected within its IT environment and the network was immediately isolated. A third-party digital forensics firm was engaged to investigate the security breach to determine the nature and scope of the incident and confirmed there had been unauthorized access on April 14, 2023, and the parts of the network that were accessed contained patient information. 

The electronic medical record system was not compromised, and highly sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, banking information, credit card information and/or financial information was not accessed. The files potentially viewed or stolen included names, addresses, dates of birth, health insurance information, medical record numbers and some health information. At the time of issuing notifications, no reports had been received to indicate there had been any actual or attempted misuse of patient data. 

Clarke County Hospital said enhancements were immediately made to improve system security and experts have been engaged to conduct a comprehensive review of system security. Security protocols will be further enhanced based on the findings of the review. Complimentary credit monitoring services and identity theft protection services have been offered to all potentially impacted individuals for 12 months and the hospital recommends that all individuals take advantage of those services. 



June 12, 2023


Topic Area: Information Technology , Safety , Security


Recent Posts

Texas Law Limits Backup Power Mandates for Senior Care Facilities

As Texas relaxes generator mandates, healthcare facility managers now face tough decisions about emergency power investments and resident safety.


Cyber Crossfire: Why Healthcare Is Becoming a Battleground in Global Conflicts

As geopolitical tensions escalate, hospitals and critical suppliers are increasingly targeted in cyberattacks.


UPMC Presbyterian Receives $65 Million Gift for New Bed Tower

The tower is projected to open for patient care in early 2027.


Premier Health Partners Falls Victim to Cyber Incident

The incident occurred in July 2023.


Backup Power's Expanding Role in Emergency Preparedness for Healthcare

Manufacturers discuss design strategies, code shifts and lessons learned from real-world disasters.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.