Turke & Strauss LLP, a leading data breach law firm, is investigating FirstHealth of the Carolinas regarding its recent data breach. The FirstHealth data breach involved sensitive personal identifiable information and protected health information belonging to an undetermined number of individuals.
ABOUT FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS:
FirstHealth is a private health care network operating 4 hospitals in North Carolina. As a health care provider, FirstHealth offers patients comprehensive healthcare, including primary care, cancer services, hospice and home care, orthopedics, and cardiology services. Founded in 1995, FirstHealth employs approximately 5,000 individuals with over 900 credentialed medical staff members. Headquartered in Pinehurst, North Carolina, FirstHealth also has locations in Troy, Rockingham, and Raeford, North Carolina.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On May 31, 2023, a third-party vendor of FirstHealth, Nuance Communications, discovered that it had experienced a data breach in which the sensitive personal identifiable information and protected health information in its systems may have been accessed. Through its investigation, Nuance Communications determined that an unauthorized actor may have accessed this sensitive information through a vulnerability in the MOVEit file sharing platform between May 28 and May 29, 2023. On September 22, 2023, Nuance Communications began contacting individuals whose information may have been impacted. The type of information exposed includes:
- Name
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Address
- Health insurance information
- Demographic information
- Medical information
If you received a breach notification letter from FirstHealth of the Carolinas or Nuance Communications, Inc.:
We would like to speak with you about your rights and potential legal remedies in response to this data breach. Please fill out the form, below, or contact us at (608) 237-1775 or sam@turkestrauss.com.
If you were impacted by the FirstHealth data breach, you may consider taking the following steps to protect your personal information.
- Carefully review the breach notice and retain a copy;
- Enroll in free credit monitoring service provided by FirstHealth of the Carolinas or Nuance Communications, Inc.;
- Change passwords and security questions for online accounts;
- Regularly review account statements for signs of fraud or unauthorized activity;
- Monitor credit reports for signs of identity theft; and
- Contact a credit bureau(s) to request a temporary fraud alert.