Question

Historic Lesson/Case Analyses Assignment

COLUMBIA SURGICAL SPECIALIST OF SPOKANE: 400,000 PATIENTS

Details into the Columbia Surgical Specialist of Spokane breach are limited. But according to the HHS breach reporting tool, the Washington provider reported a hacking incident in February impacting 400,000 patients.

There’s no public notice on the specialist’s site, but reportedly it was a ransomware attack that began on January 7. Columbia Surgical Specialist did not pay the ransom and restored data from backups.

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Answer 1

A ransomware attack on Columbia Surgical Specialists of Spokane in Washington has potentially allowed unauthorized individuals to access the protected health information of up to 400,000 patients.

Columbia Surgical Specialists learned of the ransomware attack on January 9, 2019. The security breach was immediately investigated and assistance was provided by IT security provider Intrinium.

Files encrypted by the ransomware were found to contain patient information, which included names, driver’s license numbers, Social security numbers and other types of protected health information.

Columbia Surgical Specialists told HIPAA Journal that the data security firm “went through our systems with a fine-tooth comb,” and concluded that patient data had not been stolen by the attackers. “but due to the nature of the ransomware and how the infection first began, there cannot be a guarantee.” Columbia Surgical Specialists believes the risk to patients is very low, and notifications were sent to patients out of an abundance of caution.