HIPAA Data Breach Information
Doctors Health Group, Inc. contracts with QRS, Inc. to provide healthcare technology services to two of its clinics, Paragould Doctors Clinic and Piggott Family Medical Clinic. Among other services, QRS hosts the electronic patient portal for these two clinics. Current and former patients of these two clinics as well as individuals who have scheduled an appointment with either clinic in the past (whether or not they kept the appointment) have an electronic patient portal account with QRS. On September 7, 2021, QRS notified Doctors Health Group, Inc. that certain patient data on the patient portal server has been breached by a cyber-attack from August 23, 2021 to August 26, 2021. Doctors Health Group, Inc. has confirmed that, upon discovering the attack, QRS immediately took the server offline, began an investigation and notified law enforcement. QRS also engaged a forensic security firm to confirm the security of its network, analyze the incident and determine the extent of the personal information that may have been accessed or acquired by the third party. The information accessed by the attacker may have included, depending on the individual, their name, address, date of birth, social security number, patient identification number, portal username, and/or medical treatment or diagnosis information. QRS has assured Doctors Health Group, Inc. that it has taken steps to further secure its network and reduce the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future, including implementing multi-factor authentication.
Doctors Health Group, Inc. takes the privacy of its patients very seriously. On behalf of Doctors Health Group, Inc., QRS began notifying affected patients for whom QRS has contact information by mail on October 22, 2021. Post-incident support is being provided including complimentary identity theft protection services for those individuals whose social security numbers were involved in the breach. Patients should monitor their account statements for improper activity. QRS, on behalf of Doctors Health Group, Inc. is providing a dedicated confidential toll-free inquiry line at 855-675-3080 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday which potentially affected individuals may contact for additional information.
