1.2M Cook County Health patients’ info exposed in data breach

A recent data breach at a medical transcription firm contracted by Cook County Health exposed the personal information of more than 1.2 million CCH patients, the health system said Friday.

The Cook County Health network includes two hospitals and more than a dozen community health centers across the Chicago area.

Some patient information was stored on servers at Nevada-based Perry Johnson & Associates, according to statements from both CCH and PJ&A. The transcription firm was the target of data theft sometime between March 27 and May 2 and later determined CCH patient data had been stolen.

About 2,600 patients’ Social Security numbers may have been taken during the data breach. Stolen data also included insurance information, medication history and the details of patients’ medical treatment. PJ&A said hackers did not gain access to any patients’ credit card numbers, bank accounts or any usernames and passwords.

PJ&A told Cook County Health about the breach July 26, at which…