A data breach at **Nationwide Recovery Services**, a third-party debt collection agency, exposed sensitive information of **38,000 University of Chicago Medicine Medical Group patients**. The compromised data included **names, birthdates, addresses, Social Security numbers, financial records, and medical details**, though University of Chicago Medical Center patients were unaffected. The breach was discovered in **July 2023**, with officials warning affected individuals to monitor credit reports and account statements for fraudulent activity. The incident highlights the healthcare sector’s vulnerability to cyberattacks, particularly those targeting third-party vendors with access to patient data. While no direct ransomware or systemic disruption was reported, the exposure of **highly sensitive personal and financial information** poses significant risks of identity theft, financial fraud, and long-term reputational damage to both the medical group and the vendor.
TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/university-of-chicago-medicine
"id": "uni2190921112725",
"linkid": "university-of-chicago-medicine",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "7/2023",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '38,000 patients',
'industry': 'healthcare',
'location': 'Chicago, Illinois, USA',
'name': 'University of Chicago Medicine Medical Group',
'type': 'healthcare provider'},
{'industry': 'financial services',
'name': 'Nationwide Recovery Services',
'type': 'third-party vendor (debt collection agency)'}],
'customer_advisories': 'UCM Medical Group notified affected patients of the '
'breach and potential risks.',
'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': True,
'number_of_records_exposed': '38,000',
'personally_identifiable_information': True,
'sensitivity_of_data': 'high (includes SSNs, medical details, '
'financial data)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['PII (Personally Identifiable '
'Information)',
'PHI (Protected Health '
'Information)',
'financial data']},
'description': 'Information from 38,000 University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) '
'Medical Group patients was stolen following a breach of '
'third-party debt collection agency Nationwide Recovery '
"Services in July. Attackers obtained patients' names, "
'birthdates, addresses, Social Security numbers, financial '
'data, and/or medical details. The breach did not affect '
'University of Chicago Medical Center patients. Affected '
'individuals were advised to monitor their credit reports and '
'account statements for potential fraud. This incident '
'highlights the rising cybercrime targeting the healthcare '
'industry.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'potential reputational damage due to '
'patient data exposure',
'data_compromised': ['names',
'birthdates',
'addresses',
'Social Security numbers',
'financial data',
'medical details'],
'identity_theft_risk': 'high (patients advised to monitor credit '
'reports)',
'payment_information_risk': 'financial data compromised'},
'initial_access_broker': {'high_value_targets': ['patient PII/PHI',
'financial data']},
'lessons_learned': 'Increased vigilance required for third-party vendor '
'security in the healthcare sector due to rising '
'cybercrime targeting hospitals and patient data.',
'motivation': ['financial gain', 'data theft'],
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': ['third-party vendor (Nationwide '
'Recovery Services) breach',
'potential inadequate security '
'controls at vendor level']},
'recommendations': ['Enhance third-party vendor risk assessments and security '
'audits.',
'Implement stricter data protection measures for PII/PHI '
'shared with external partners.',
'Provide credit monitoring services to affected patients.',
'Improve incident response coordination between '
'healthcare providers and third-party vendors.'],
'references': [{'source': 'CBS News Chicago'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'regulations_violated': ['potential HIPAA '
'violations (if PHI was '
'unsecured)']},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'advisory to affected patients to '
'monitor credit reports and account '
'statements'},
'stakeholder_advisories': 'Patients advised to monitor credit reports and '
'account statements for fraud.',
'title': 'Data Breach at Nationwide Recovery Services Affecting University of '
'Chicago Medicine Medical Group Patients',
'type': ['data breach', 'third-party breach']}