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June 24, 2021

Email Data Breaches Highlight Different Types of Hazards

Two recent healthcare data breaches exemplify how all breaches are not the same. On April 8, South Texas Health System (STHC) discovered that an email with an attached report from November 2020 was inadvertently sent to the wrong email address. The attachment contained a list of emergency department discharges containing names, discharge instructions, and other identifiable demographic information. STHC notified the 6761 individuals involved.

Additionally, Ohio-based Aticure Group Health Plan discovered that an unauthorized individual accessed an employee email account on March 8. Aticure quickly secured the account, but a total of 2487 individuals were affected by the breach. Demographic, financial, medical, and insurance claim information may have been exposed.