Deer Oaks Behavioral Health, a mental healthcare provider based in San Antonio, Texas, recently reported a significant data security incident, affecting over 171,000 individuals. This incident, discovered on September 1, 2023, prompted Deer Oaks to conduct a forensic investigation into the unauthorized activity within its computer network. The investigation revealed that sensitive patient data, including names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, diagnosis codes, insurance information, and treatment service details, may have been accessed and acquired.
On October 31, 2023, Deer Oaks began notifying impacted individuals through Data Breach Notification letters, outlining the specific details of the breach and the potential data that could have been compromised. As a response to this incident, Deer Oaks is providing a year of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services for the affected individuals. Victims of this data breach also have the option to pursue legal action to recover losses related to identity theft and fraud.
Additionally, the Lyon Firm, legal experts in data breaches, strongly recommend that those affected by the breach take immediate steps to mitigate fraud risk. These steps include initiating a fraud alert and security freeze on credit files and enrolling in free credit reports. It is also advisable for victims to maintain vigilance by regularly reviewing their online accounts and financial statements for any signs of fraudulent activity.
This incident underscores the importance of robust data security measures in the healthcare industry, given the potential risks associated with unauthorized access to sensitive patient information. Deer Oaks Behavioral Health specializes in providing psychological and psychiatric services to residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities in Texas, covering various mental health conditions and treatment services.
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