266k LA medical center patients' PHI compromised in ransomware attack

Julie Spitzer -

Los Angeles-based Pacific Alliance Medical Center is recovering from a ransomware attack that compromised the protected health information of 266,123 patients, according to HHS Office for Civil Rights breach portal.

On June 14, PAMC learned its networked computer systems were affected by a cyber incident, which IT officials later determined to be ransomware. The medical center shut down its systems and initiated its response and recovery procedures. Officials were able to decrypt the infected files and have since taken action to restore the affected systems.

Patients' medical and personal information — including names, demographic information, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, employment information, health insurance information and health information — were on the servers affected by the attack. However, PAMC said there is no evidence any unauthorized person viewed, retrieved, copied or deleted this information.

As a precaution, it is providing potentially affected individuals with two years of free identity theft protection services.

Becker's has reached out to PAMC for comment. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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