Lifetime Psychiatry, a healthcare provider specializing in mental health services, has reported a significant data breach involving sensitive patient information. The breach occurred between September 25 and September 27, 2024, when an unauthorized individual gained access to an employee’s email account, exposing a range of personal and medical data.
According to a report filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, the breach was caused by an email security incident. The unauthorized access was discovered during an internal investigation, which revealed that an employee’s email account had been compromised. The breached affected 16,926 individuals.
In response to the breach, the organization has taken immediate steps to address the issue. The company has worked with cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and is enhancing its security measures to prevent similar events in the future. Lifetime Psychiatry is focusing on improving its internal policies and controls, particularly in the areas of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access policies, which will provide additional layers of protection for patient data.
Although there is currently no evidence to suggest that identity theft or fraud has occurred due to this incident, individuals linked to Lifetime Psychiatry are encouraged to take precautions. To minimize potential risks, it is advisable to regularly monitor financial statements, update passwords, and remain vigilant against unsolicited communications, such as phishing attempts. For additional guidance on safeguarding your information following a data breach, we encourage you to review this resource on responding to data breaches and the proactive steps you can take to protect yourself.
