Salina (Kan.) Family Healthcare Center issued an update to its security notice Aug. 21 after discovering its initial letter was incorrectly addressed.
Following a ransomware attack June 18, Salina Family Healthcare Center issued letters to affected individuals informing them of the incident. However, the letters were not addressed to the correct recipients. In its security notice update, Salina Family Healthcare Center officials requested the unintended recipients mark the letter "return to sender" and deliver it to a mail person or post office. Officials said revised letters would be delivered to the appropriate addresses.
In the initial letter, Salina Family Healthcare Center officials said they secured the center's systems and restored computers and servers immediately after discovering the ransomware. The healthcare provider also engaged independent computer forensics experts to investigate the incident and determine if patient information had been accessed by an unauthorized third party.
There is no evidence an unauthorized individual accessed or misused patient information as a result of the ransomware incident, officials said. However, affected patient information might have included names, Social Security numbers or health insurance information, among other data. Officials have offered affected individuals free credit monitoring and identity theft services.
To avoid future security incidents, Salina Family Healthcare Center officials have scanned the network for viruses, upgraded its servers and provided additional security training to IT staff. They have also established a toll-free call center to address patient questions about the incident.
Click here to view the full notice.
Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Salina Family Healthcare Center for comment and will update as more information becomes available.