Notice of Data Event
Last updated: December 29, 2023
Akumin is issuing an update to its prior notifications about a ransomware incident that occurred on October 11, 2023, and was disclosed to customers beginning on October 12, 2023, to patients via its website updates on October 19, 2023 and supplemented as developments arose, and to the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2023, October 20, 2023, and November 2, 2023.
What Happened? The review of this matter, including impact to data, is ongoing. On October 11, 2023, Akumin experienced a ransomware incident, which involved an unauthorized actor using malware to lock access to some files without authorization. After identifying this matter, Akumin took its systems offline and securely restored them. During the review of this matter, Akumin identified that files on certain systems were copied from its computer network on October 11 without permission. Akumin is undertaking a comprehensive review of the files in order to provide notice to patients who may be affected.
What Information Was Involved? Beginning on November 15, 2023, Akumin identified that patient information may have been copied. On December 15, 2023, Akumin completed its review of a subset of copied files. These files included the following types of information: name, contact information, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license and/or state identification number, health insurance policy number, patient identification number, diagnosis or condition, treatment information, treatment date, internal service charge codes, and/or radiology images. However, as referenced above, the review of this matter is ongoing, this information is subject to change, and the particulars of all affected data and to whom it relates is not known at this time.
What We Are Doing. We implemented additional technical security measures and procedures, and are also evaluating our policies and procedures to mitigate reoccurrence of this type of event. Akumin is also keeping customers and patients informed as additional information becomes available. Further, after completing the review of the above-referenced subset of files, Akumin diligently worked to provide notice to the impacted individuals via mail and this notice.
What Individuals Can Do. The review of this matter remains ongoing. Individuals may consider remaining vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing relevant account statements, if any, and monitoring their free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Individuals may also review the “Steps Individuals Can Take To Protect Personal Information” section below.
For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, please submit a contact us form or individuals may contact Akumin’s dedicated assistance line at 1-833-420-2856, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm EST (excluding U.S. Holidays). Individuals may also write to us at Akumin Inc., Attn: Compliance Department, 8300 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, FL 33322.
Steps Individuals Can Take To Protect Personal Information
Monitor Relevant Accounts
Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.
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 consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any 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 a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:
- Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
- Social Security number;
- Date of birth;
- Addresses for the prior two to five years;
- Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
- A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
- A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.
Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:
Equifax: www.equifax.com and 1-888-298-0045
Experian: www.experian.com and 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: www.transunion.com and 1-800-916-8800
Additional Information
Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their 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. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.
For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-727-3400; and oag.dc.gov.
For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.
For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.
For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; and https://ag.ny.gov.
For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.
For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event. There are approximately 0 Rhode Island residents that may be impacted by this event as of this writing. This number is subject to change as the review of this matter continues.
December 6, 2023
Akumin is issuing an update to its prior notifications about a ransomware infection that occurred on October 11, 2023, and was disclosed to customers beginning on October 12, 2023, to patients via its website updates on October 19, 2023 and supplemented as developments arose, and to the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2023, October 20, 2023, and November 2, 2023.
What Happened?
The review of this matter, including impact to data, is ongoing. On October 11, 2023, Akumin was the victim of a ransomware incident, which involved an unauthorized actor using malware to lock access to some files without authorization. After identifying this matter, Akumin took its systems offline, securely restored them, and regained access to its files. During the review of this matter, Akumin identified that files on certain systems were at risk of being copied from its computer network on October 11, 2023.
What Information Was Involved?
Beginning on November 15, 2023, Akumin identified that patient information may have been copied, which may include one or more of the following: name, date of birth, diagnosis or condition, treatment information, and/or radiology images. However, as referenced above, the review of this matter is ongoing, this information is subject to change, and the particulars of the affected data and to whom it relates is not known at this time.
What We Are Doing
We implemented additional technical safeguards to mitigate reoccurrence of this type of event, retrained workforce members, and are keeping customers and patients informed as additional information becomes available.
What Individuals Can Do.
As of this writing, Akumin is not aware of any data affected that may create a risk of identity theft or fraud. However, the review of this matter remains ongoing. Individuals may consider remaining vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing relevant account statements, if any, and monitoring their free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Individuals may also review the “Steps Individuals Can Take To Protect Personal Information” section below.
For More Information.
If individuals have questions about this matter, please submit a contact us form (select Data Compliance as Type of Inquiry). Individuals may also write to us at Akumin Inc., Attn: Compliance Department, 8300 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, FL 33322.
Steps Individuals Can Take To Protect Personal Information
Monitor Relevant Accounts
Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.
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 consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any 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 a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:
- Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
- Social Security number;
- Date of birth;
- Addresses for the prior two to five years;
- Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
- A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
- A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.
Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:
Equifax: www.equifax.com and 1-888-298-0045
Experian: www.experian.com and 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: www.transunion.com and 1-800-916-8800
Additional Information
Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their 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. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General.
November 10, 2023
At this time, Akumin has safely restored the majority of our systems. All of our locations have resumed patient care and are now able to schedule patient appointments. Patients who wish to reschedule an appointment or schedule a new appointment should contact their preferred location directly. Contact information by location can be found on our locations page.
We will continue to provide additional updates on this website as they become available.
- Can I come in for my appointment? Who should I contact to schedule my appointment?
Patients who wish to reschedule an appointment or schedule a new appointment should contact their preferred location directly. Contact information by location can be found on our locations page. At this time, all of our locations are operational and accepting appointments. - When will I be able to come in to receive care?
At this time, all of our locations are operational and accepting appointments. - Can I retrieve past imaging and radiology results? What about my medical records?
At this time, you can retrieve most past imaging and radiology results. Since our systems are being restored with differing timelines, a limited amount of past imaging may still be currently unavailable. If you need access to certain imaging results from prior years, please contact the specific location you visited. Contact information by location can be found on our locations page. - Who can I contact with additional questions or concerns?
If you have immediate medical concerns, please contact your healthcare provider directly. For all other inquiries, please submit a contact us form. - Was my information accessed?
Based on the investigation to date, it appears likely that the attacker accessed files containing personal data, including Protected Health Information. We are working to confirm the full scope of the incident. We will notify potentially affected third parties and individuals in accordance with legal obligations. Investigations of this nature take time, and we appreciate your continued patience. - If I had an imaging appointment in the days immediately preceding the incident and have not yet received initial results, when should I expect to receive them?
If your appointment took place in the days immediately preceding the incident and you have not yet received your results, please know that our radiologists and radiology partners are working diligently to read scans and submit results as quickly as possible. Your results will be shared with you as soon as they are available. If you have additional questions, please contact the specific location you visited. Contact information by location can be found on our locations page.