The American Board of Internal Medicine is DISMAYED!
I woke up this past week to a delightful email:
Dear Dr.:
ABIM was deeply disappointed to learn that we are among approximately 800 organizations potentially affected by the recent MOVEit Transfer vulnerability.
Comment: “Disappointed” is such a “not strong” word. It’s like me saying: “We’re disappointed about that mass shooting.”
We wanted to alert the diplomate community as soon as we could to the possibility that some of their personal data may have been exposed. We take many steps to protect the data of the physicians we certify …
Comment: Obviously you don’t take enough steps to protect physician data.
…and are dismayed that any physician may have had personal information exposed as a result of these bad actors.
Comment: “Dismayed” means what? You’re confused? You didn’t know that leaving the front door unlocked would invite … what you call… “bad actors”? Did you forget to take your Donepezil? Do I need to notify the DMV about your ability to operate a motor vehicle?
We are currently working with Information Security experts to learn exactly what happened, including partnering with a leading cyber forensic company to undertake an extensive investigation.
Comment: Did the ABIM sell my information to other third party vendors?
ABIM will contact anyone who has been directly affected by this incident, and do everything we can to support them.
Comment: That translates into: “Our attorneys will send an incomprehensible letter to all of you again, since you were likely ALL compromised and we might offer six months of a credit monitoring service which won’t help you when someone decides to create a bogus physician license and DEA credentials for a drug distribution ring operating out of Arizona. Just make sure you pay for a good lawyer when the Feds come bashing down your door and handcuffing you in front of your patients.”
The notification goes on with the usual “blah, blah, blah.” Please note I am having a lot of trouble not lapsing into a string of NSFW 4 letter words….
If you expose patient data as a physician, you are in deep trouble. The ABIM often feels like a Mafia protection racket, annually demanding “protection money.” You can attempt to opt out, but your hospital credentialing is endangered. Rather than fight a battle that literally risks your ability to work, most of us just cough up the money and jump through their hoops.
Dear ABIM: Please refund my protection money. You failed.
Excellent commentary on the letter you received.
That is why I bailed on the corrupt bastards at the ABFM and went to the NBP&S. Much cheaper, no pointless extortion MOC’s and exams. Anyone continuing to cooperate with the ABMS and their capo arms is merely harming themselves.