Partnered Health responds to malicious actor incident
On 15 July, Partnered Health acknowledged that it became aware that a malicious actor had accessed some of its data. This awareness occurred on 23 June, and the health services provider said it responded by engaging specialist cyber experts to provide advice.
“We took immediate steps to contain the incident and assess whether personal information was accessed. This investigation remains ongoing,” Partnered Health said.
Partnered Health also said: “Our investigations to date have confirmed that personal information (including health information) was taken from some of the clinics in our network. We are continuing to investigate the extent to which personal information has been impacted by this incident and are communicating with patients from impacted clinics.”
Partnered Health said it reported the incident to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and law enforcement, and said it is continuing to work with the authorities.
“As a health services provider, we know our patients and our people trust us with personal and medical information and we sincerely apologise for any concern and inconvenience this may cause them.”
This incident may have affected personal information patients have provided to Partnered Health, or which was collected while providing patients with healthcare services. Partnered Health advised that this information may include:
- name, date of birth, address and contact details;
- Medicare number and, where applicable, private health insurance or Veteran Card (DVA) number or concession card number; and
- medical information and treatment details, including consultation notes, referral letters, and pathology or diagnostic results recorded by a GP or other medical professionals at its clinics.
Partnered Health also advised that the following practices have been impacted:
- Blackburn Road Medical Centre
- Broadway General Practice
- Bundall Medical Centre
- Cardiff Medical Centre & Skin Cancer Clinic
- Castle Hill Family Doctors
- Champion Drive Medical Centre
- Chancellor Park Family Medical Practice
- Dromana Family Doctors
- Dural Medical Centre
- Joondalup City Medical Group
- Kealba Family Practice
- Mornington Family Doctors
- Noosaville Seven Day Medical Centre
- North Canberra Family Practice
- Park Beach Family Practice
- Park Orchards Family Practice
- Rockingham City Family Practice
- Sans Souci Medical Practice
- Templestowe District Medical Centre
- Wentworth Avenue Family Practice
- Wyong Family Practice
With further information, including steps its patients can take to help protect their personal information, a dedicated website has been set up by Partnered Health at www.partneredhealth.com.au/support.
Partnered Health said it will provide updates on the website as its investigation continues and new relevant information becomes available.
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