Tilbury District Family Health Team confirms patient data impacted by October ransomware attack

After the ransomware incident that occurred last year, several hospitals in southwestern Ontario are still dealing with the aftermath of the data breach. The Tilbury District Family Health Team (TDFHT) has announced that patient health records were affected during the cyberattack on October 23, 2023. This attack also led to the theft of varying amounts of patient and staff data from Bluewater Health, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, and Windsor Regional Hospital. The target of the attack was the TransForm Shared Service Organization, responsible for managing technological systems at the five hospitals and TDFHT. In a communication to the impacted patients/clients, TDFHT clarified that while the electronic medical records remained secure, data stored on a shared drive was illicitly accessed.

In October 2023, the TransForm Shared Service Organization was the victim of a ransomware attack, leading to the unauthorized access of patient and staff data from five hospitals in southwestern Ontario and the Tilbury District Family Health Team. The incident involved the theft of various patient details such as names, dates of birth, addresses, and health card numbers. It is important to note that while the electronic medical records were not affected, information saved on a communal server was taken. This event highlights the critical importance of implementing strong cybersecurity protocols and maintaining a perpetual state of alertness to combat cyber risks.