Radiology group reports PACS hack

PARCA eNews – March 11, 2020 –Northeast Radiology today announced that it is addressing a data security incident, caused by unauthorized individuals, which may have involved the personal information of some patients. 

Northeast Radiology and its healthcare management services provider, Alliance HealthCare Services, have completed an investigation with a leading forensic security firm and are evaluating systems and processes to help prevent future occurrences.

On January 11, 2020, Alliance HealthCare Services notified Northeast Radiology that unauthorized individuals gained access to Northeast Radiology’s picture archiving and communication system (“PACS”), which is used to store radiology images and related information. 

Upon learning of the incident, Alliance HealthCare Services launched an investigation to understand the incident, review all related security controls, and evaluate systems and processes to further strengthen protections for the PACS.

There is no evidence that any personal information was misused by the unauthorized individuals, and Northeast Radiology is not aware of any instances of fraud or identity theft as a result of this incident. However, Alliance HealthCare Services and Northeast Radiology’s investigation determined that 29 patients’ information was accessed in this incident.

Written notifications were sent beginning March 11, 2020, to all potentially impacted individuals for whom Northeast Radiology had contact information

Source: Business Wire press release