WMC Patient Portal

Notice of Data Privacy Event

March 18, 2024 – Weirton Medical Center (“Weirton”) is providing notice of an event that impacted the privacy of certain individuals’ information. While Weirton is unaware of any misuse of any individual’s information, we are providing information about the event, our response to it, and resources we are making available to affected individuals to help protect their information, should they wish to do so.  

What Happened? On January 18, 2024, we discovered suspicious activity in our network. We immediately took steps to secure our systems and launched an investigation into the nature and scope of the event with the assistance of third-party forensic specialists. The investigation determined that between January 14, 2024, and January 18, 2024, an unknown actor gained access to certain systems on our network and acquired certain files from these systems. In response, we thoroughly reviewed the affected files in order to identify what information is contained therein and to whom that information relates. On March 6, 2024, we completed our comprehensive review and confirmed that information relating to certain current and former patients was present in the affected files.

What Information Was Involved? While the specific type of information varies for each individual, based on our review, the scope of information involved includes: name, Social Security number, date of birth, medical information, health insurance information, treatment information, and balance due on medical bill. Please note that our electronic medical record (EMR) system is not hosted within Weirton’s network and was not impacted by this event. Weirton does not have evidence of any actual or attempted fraudulent misuse of information as a result of this incident.

What We Are Doing. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of personal information is among Weirton’s highest priorities, and we have strict security measures in place to protect information in our care. Upon becoming aware of this incident, we immediately took steps to secure our systems and launched a full investigation with the assistance of third-party forensic specialists. Since discovering the event, we have implemented additional security measures to further protect against similar incidents occurring in the future. We also reported this incident to federal law enforcement and applicable regulators, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

How Will Individuals Know If They Are Affected By This Incident? On March 18, 2024, Weirton mailed a notice letter to individuals whose information was determined to be in the affected files, and for whom we have a valid mailing address. If an individual does not receive a letter but would like to know if they are affected, they may call our dedicated assistance line, detailed below. 

What You Can Do. We encourage individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements, explanation of benefits forms, and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report, place a fraud alert, or a security freeze. Contact information for the credit bureaus is below:

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you may need to provide the following information, depending on whether the request is made online, by phone, or by mail:

  1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
  2. Social Security number;
  3. Date of birth;
  4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
  5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
  6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
  7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft.

Should you wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax

Experian

TransUnion 

https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/

https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help

1-888-298-0045

1-888-397-3742

1-800-916-8800

Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069

Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016

Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For More Information. If individuals have questions or would like additional information, they may call Weirton’s dedicated assistance line at (833) 918-8051 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding major U.S. holidays. If you decide to call, please reference the engagement number B117977.