9 Food Allergy Symptoms You Should Be Able to Recognize
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Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center Files Notice Of November 2024 Data Breach
On December 12, 2024, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center ("NAAC") filed a notice of data breach with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights after discovering that an unauthorized party gained access to its computer network. In this notice, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers' sensitive information, which includes their names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, insurance carriers, treatment dates, test results, treatment plans, and contact information. Upon completing its investigation, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification from Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center Data Breach?The Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center's filing with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on November 13, 2024, NAAC became aware of a data security incident that had occurred the day before, on November 12, 2024.
In response, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center launched an investigation, confirming that an unauthorized party was able to access an employee's email account. Further investigation revealed that the affected email account contained confidential patient information.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, birth date, Social Security number, insurance carrier, treatment dates, test results, treatment plans, and contact information.
On December 12, 2024, Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.
More Information About Northwest Asthma & Allergy CenterNorthwest Asthma & Allergy Center is a healthcare provider specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, allergies, and related conditions. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the center operates multiple clinics across the Puget Sound region, including Bellevue, Everett, and Olympia, offering comprehensive care to patients of all ages. The center's team of board-certified allergists and immunologists provides personalized treatment plans for conditions such as food allergies, hay fever, eczema, and immune system disorders. Services include allergy testing, immunotherapy, pulmonary function testing, and education on managing chronic conditions. Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center employs approximately 100 people and generates an estimated $15 million in annual revenue.
Air Force Revises Waiver Rules For Asthma, Allergies
The Air Force Accessions Center announced the expansion of medical waiver considerations for multiple medical conditions, which opens up the opportunity for military service to an additional 600 applicants annually, Nov. 1.
The Department of the Air Force holds strict medical accession standards but can grant waivers in specific cases. The new policy expands previous guidance in several areas, including asthma, hearing loss and food allergies.
"We are constantly evaluating how we can bring in the best talent while ensuring our members can serve effectively and safely," said Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, AFAC commander. "By expanding waiver criteria for manageable health conditions, we can access a wider pool of qualified applicants without compromising mission readiness."
The new waiver policy will allow for the recruitment of individuals with clinically diagnosed asthma, provided they do not require daily preventive medication, and their rescue inhaler use is kept to a minimum. This marks a significant change from the previous standard, which disqualified all individuals with a positive asthma diagnosis and did not consider the severity of the diagnosis, according to Col. David Gregory, director of the Accession Medial Waiver division at AFAC.
Additionally, applicants with hearing loss in one ear that has been diagnosed as moderate hearing impairment can now be considered for waiver, provided the opposite ear meets the standards of mild hearing impairment.
Finally, individuals with a documented history of food allergies, provided there has been no anaphylaxis or serious systemic reaction, will now qualify for a waiver.
All three of the expanded waiver considerations will come with limitations to the career fields that applicants will be eligible to ensure members will not be put into career fields that will put them at increased risk to worsen their medical condition and be given an assignment limitation code in accordance with medical retention waiver practices per Air Force Personnel Center
/U.S. Air Force Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
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