Coastal Orthopedics, located in Bradenton, Florida, has confirmed a data breach following a cyberattack that occurred in June 2023. The practice detected unusual activity on its network on June 11, 2023, leading to an investigation that revealed unauthorized access to files and folders. By June 27, 2024, Coastal had filed a notice of the breach with the attorney general of Vermont after confirming that confidential patient information had been compromised.
The investigation determined that the breach involved access to patient names, Social Security numbers, medical information, addresses, driver’s license numbers, health insurance details, financial account information, and dates of birth. Although the exact number of affected patients is unclear, the breach included various sensitive data elements. At this point, there is no evidence that the stolen information has been used for identity theft or fraud.
Coastal Orthopedics has taken significant steps in response to the incident, including conducting a thorough investigation with third-party specialists and reviewing its network security. The practice has also assessed the impact on patient data and notified those affected based on available contact information. Additionally, Coastal is re-evaluating its internal policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As part of its response, Coastal Orthopedics is providing affected individuals with information on protecting their data. The practice is committed to enhancing its security measures and will continue to work with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance and address any further issues related to the breach.
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