ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Community Health Systems (CHS), a company that owns several hospitals throughout the nation, has experienced a data breach that affects 4.5 million patients.
Reports say hackers have stolen personal data including Social Security numbers, physical addresses, birthdays, and telephone numbers, but did not include any medical information or credit card information.
CHS operates 206 hospitals in the U.S., including Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville.
The company says the attack may have happened in April or June and affects patients who have received care or been referred to one of the facilities in the last five years.
Gateway Medical Center released a statement about the cyber-attack.
“We take very seriously the security and confidentiality of private patient information and we sincerely regret any concern or inconvenience to patients. Though we have no reason to believe that this data would ever be used, all affected patients are being notified by letter and offered free identity theft protection,” the statement said.
CHS believes the intruder was a foreign-based group out of China that was likely looking for intellectual property. The company says the threat has been removed and applications have been put in place to prevent future attacks.
The FBI is working with CHS to conduct an investigation.
For more information about CHS, visit their website here.