NeighborHealth based in Boston, Massachusetts, has reported a privacy breach incident that occurred around March 9, 2024, affecting the names of certain patients. Although the organization has no evidence of misuse of any patient’s name due to this incident, it is notifying all potentially affected patients as a precautionary measure. The breach resulted from a clerical error during a mailing informing patients of the name change from East Boston Neighborhood Health Center to NeighborHealth.
The error caused names and addresses to be mismatched on the mailing list, leading to letters being sent with incorrect names on the envelopes. While full names were inadvertently disclosed in a small minority of letters, no other personal information about the patients was included. NeighborHealth has emphasized that no specific patient data was targeted or misused, and there are no indications that this information will be further accessed or disclosed in a way that poses significant risks.
At this time, NeighborHealth believes there is no risk of financial harm stemming from the disclosed information. The organization is taking steps to ensure that affected patients are informed and reassured about the situation. Patients who have questions about the potential impact of this incident can reach out to NeighborHealth at the provided contact number.
NeighborHealth’s proactive approach aims to maintain transparency with its patient community while addressing any concerns arising from this clerical mishap. As the organization navigates this issue, it remains committed to safeguarding patient information and preventing similar occurrences in the future.
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