Cyberattacks come with several risks to orthopedic practices, from shut-down computer systems to patient lawsuits.
Here are four orthopedic practices that have faced data breach lawsuits in the last two years:
1. Paducah-based Southern Orthopedic Associates, otherwise known as the Orthopaedic Institute of Western Kentucky, agreed to pay $660,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that it failed to protect patient information from a 2021 cyberattack.
2. Gautier, Miss.-based Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists was hit with a lawsuit over a data breach that compromised the personal information of over 240,000 patients. According to the lawsuits filed by patients, the practice became aware of the breach on March 5 but took no steps to notify impacted individuals until Sept. 1.
3. Durham, N.C.-based EmergeOrtho faced a lawsuit related to a ransomware attack that may have exposed the data of more than 75,000 people.
4. Tampa-based Florida Orthopaedic Institute agreed to pay $4 million to settle allegations it failed to protect consumers in a 2020 ransomware attack.