Geisinger provides notice of Nuance’s data security incident
DANVILLE, Pa. – Nuance Communications Inc., an outside vendor that provides information technology services for Geisinger, is notifying Geisinger patients that some personal information may have been accessed by a former Nuance employee.
On Nov. 29, 2023, Geisinger discovered and immediately notified Nuance that a former Nuance employee had accessed certain Geisinger patient information two days after the employee had been terminated. Upon learning this, Nuance permanently disconnected its former employee’s access to Geisinger’s records. An investigation was launched, and law enforcement was engaged. Because it could have impeded their investigation, law enforcement investigators asked Nuance to delay notifying patients of this incident until now. The former Nuance employee has been arrested and is facing federal charges.
Through its investigation, Nuance determined the former employee may have accessed and taken information pertaining to more than one million Geisinger patients. The information varied by patient but could have included names in combination with one or more of the following: date of birth, address, admit and discharge or transfer code, medical record number, race, gender, phone number and facility name abbreviation. No claims or insurance information, credit card or bank account numbers, other financial information, or Social Security numbers were inappropriately accessed by the company’s former employee.
“Our patients’ and members’ privacy is a top priority, and we take protecting it very seriously,” said Jonathan Friesen, Geisinger chief privacy officer. “We continue to work closely with the authorities on this investigation, and while I am grateful that the perpetrator was caught and is now facing federal charges, I am sorry that this happened.”
Geisinger encourages those who have received a notice to review the information and contact the number below to address any concerns. They may call 855-575-8722, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., Eastern Time, except for major U.S. holidays, and provide engagement number B124651.
Further, those patients whose information was involved in the incident are encouraged to review the statements they receive from their health plan and contact their health insurer immediately if they see services they did not receive.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
