Notification of Data Security Incident

• Posted on: Aug 28 2024
• By: Jim Wiegand

August 28, 2024 – On July 9, 2024, Tower Clock Eye Center determined unauthorized access to a limited number of employee email accounts. Tower Clock Eye Center has worked to ensure that the affected accounts had been properly secured and that the incident was fully remediated. In addition, Tower Clock Eye Center has swiftly engaged a third-party team of forensic investigators in order to determine the full nature and scope of the incident. Following a thorough investigation, on August 14, 2024, Tower Clock Eye Center confirmed that a limited amount of protected health information may have been accessed in connection with this incident.

Although the forensic investigation could not rule out the possibility that an unknown actor may have accessed this information, there is no indication whatsoever that any information has been misused. The type of information contained within the affected data included patient name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, financial account number, payment card number, medical record number, patient ID or account number, Medicare number, Medicaid number, health insurance information, medical diagnosis and treatment information, medical treatment location, doctor name, medical treatment date, and medical lab or test result. Importantly, the information potentially impacted may vary for each individual, and may include all, or just one, of the above-listed types of information.

At this time, Tower Clock Eye Center is not aware of any evidence to suggest that patient information has been misused. However, Tower Clock Eye Center has been unable to rule out the possibility that the patient information could have been accessed. Therefore, in an abundance of caution, Tower Clock Eye Center is partnering with third-party specialists to perform a thorough analysis of the affected information to identify, and subsequently notify all potentially affected individuals as required by law.

In response to this incident, Tower Clock Eye Center has implemented additional security measures within its network and facilities and is reviewing its current policies and procedures related to data security. Although Tower Clock Eye Center has no evidence of actual misuse of information as a result of this incident, patients are nonetheless encouraged to monitor their account statements and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Patients may also wish to contact the three major credit agencies to place a fraud alert on their credit report – the credit agencies’ contact information is: Equifax (888-378-4329); TransUnion (833-395-6938); and Experian (888-397-3472).

Tower Clock Eye Center has established a hotline to answer questions about the incident and to address related concerns. The number for the hotline is 920-499-3102. You may also contact us by email daniellej@towerclockeyecenter.com, or by writing to 1087 West Mason Street, Green Bay, WI 54303.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your credit reports/account statements and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Once you receive your credit report, review it for discrepancies and identify any accounts you did not open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting bureau.

You have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert, 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 lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, you 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 your 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 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 credit freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Address for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (e.g., state driver’s license or identification card); 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 fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

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