In the News
A healthcare data breach is impacting patients near the Northwestern area. In Rush Health System Reports Data Breach Affecting 45,000, NBC Chicago reports on a data breach at the Chicagoland Rush Health Systems resulting from inappropriately shared files dating back to last May. NBC Chicago explains that healthcare information of patients was not exposed, but their personal information including Social Security Numbers (SSNs) were exposed.
Our Take
We hear about data breaches in the news frequently but are often disassociated with their detrimental impact and violations of privacy. However, the Rush Healthcare System operates not too far from Northwestern’s campus and may have impacted many individuals in the Northwestern and Evanston areas. Healthcare data breaches are often more sensitive than others because they either involve the exposure of personal health information or involve the exposure of SSNs required on many healthcare forms. In the breach involving Rush Healthcare Systems, it seems as though the data exposure was not identified until a long time after the incident occurred. While it is lucky that the exposed data has not been adversely used as of yet, the reality of its exposure and the timeline of identifying the breach is cause for alarm. Individuals can do their part in providing only the essential personal information, but companies must also be reliable for securing the patient information they receive in exchange for healthcare services.
Recommendations
How can you protect yourself from the damage of healthcare data breaches?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Practice safe password habits
- Take advantage of multi-factor authentication whenever possible
- Check your email, financial accounts, and credit reports regularly for abnormal activities
- Stay up to date on the news regarding recent data breaches and exposures to see if you may have been affected