AHN patients possible victims of data breach

The data of Allegheny Health Network Home Infusion (AHNHI) patients may have been improperly accessed after the data breach of a vendor, officials said Friday.

Vantage Healthcare Network, Inc., a vendor of Pittsburgh-based AHNHI, was the victim of a ransomware cyber-attack in October. AHNHI is now in the process of notifying patients whose data may have been compromised by the breach, according to a statement from Highmark Health.

The patient data potentially exposed via the breach was maintained by Vantage for the administration of AHNHI’s business, including nurse’s notes, billing information, patient referral information, prescriptions, treatment and therapy records, medical device orders, and scheduling information. Vantage is based in Meadville.

Home infusion therapy involves administering intravenous drugs to a patient at home.

AHNHI said some patients Social Security numbers may have impacted by the breach, although it says there is no current indication of any actual or attempted misuse of patient information related to the incident.

“At Allegheny Health Network Home Infusion, safeguarding the privacy and security of patient information is our highest priority, and we sincerely regret any concern or inconvenience this incident may cause those we care for,” said Allegheny Health Network spokesman Dan Laurent. “As part of our ongoing commitment to information security, we continue to explore and implement new measures and resources – both at AHN and with respect to our vendors – that will help further protect against this type of incident in the future.”

For its part, Vantage said it has restored its affected systems, including all of the data pertaining to patients.

AHN patients who have questions about the Vantage Healthcare Network data incident can call 855-604-1791.