Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2022
Connecticut fines Hartford HealthCare over Windham Hospital maternity services
Fine or penalty
Connecticut's Office of Health Strategy fined Hartford HealthCare $65,000 for ceasing labor and delivery services at Windham Hospital before filing the required documents. The agency alleged that the health system intentionally skirted approval rules.
Connecticut’s Office of Health Strategy fined Hartford HealthCare $65,000 for ceasing labor and delivery services at Windham Hospital before filing the required documents. The agency alleged that the health system intentionally skirted approval rules.
Company response
Denial — Hartford HealthCare
“While we disagree with the penalty, we are committed to working with OHS to bring our application to a decision in a timely manner,” Varona said.
Source excerpt
In a letter sent to Hartford HealthCare on Monday, OHS alleged the health system had intentionally skirted rules requiring providers to seek approval before terminating services.
Hartford HealthCare has been fined $65,000 as a penalty for ceasing labor and delivery services at Windham Hospital before filing the necessary documents with the state, Connecticut’s Office of Health Strategy announced Monday.
2022
Saint Francis sues Hartford HealthCare over alleged anticompetitive conduct
Lawsuit filed
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center sued Hartford HealthCare and subsidiaries, alleging that Hartford HealthCare sought to monopolize hospital services through physician-practice acquisitions and referral demands. The claims are allegations in the lawsuit.
Company response
Denial — Hartford HealthCare
“We believe the complaint filed by St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center is without merit. Hartford HealthCare denies these allegations and we will vigorously defend against them.
Source excerpt
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center has filed a federal lawsuit against Hartford HealthCare.
The Attorney General’s Office said it is concerned by the allegations and is reviewing the matter.
In the complaint, Saint Francis claims there’s been a campaign “that has caused serious harm to health care competition and consumers in the Hartford, Connecticut area.”
2020
OSHA proposes penalties over alleged Natchaug Hospital safety violations
Fine or penalty
OSHA proposed approximately $13,500 in penalties for Natchaug Hospital. The agency alleged that the hospital failed to properly log eight work-related COVID-19 cases and that workers were not given proper N95 masks when caring for patients suspected of having COVID-19. These were allegations in the citation, not a reported final determination.
Company response
Denial — Hartford HealthCare
Kumar said the network has “fully implemented” a respiratory protection program and denied that Natchaug had a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Source excerpt
In the citation, OSHA alleges Natchaug administrators failed to properly log eight work-related cases of COVID-19 dating back to March.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed around $13,500 in penalties for Natchaug Hospital in Mansfield.
According to an OSHA citation dated Sept. 8, however, that was not always the case.
2020
Hartford HealthCare discloses patient data breach
Issue disclosure
Hartford HealthCare disclosed a cybersecurity incident in which an unauthorized person accessed two employees’ email accounts, exposing personal information of some patients. The provider said up to 2,651 patients may have been affected and reported finding no evidence that the accessed information had been misused.
Company response
Investigation — Hartford HealthCare
After suspicious activity was observed in the targeted email accounts, Hartford HealthCare "immediately took steps to secure the accounts" and engaged a technology forensics firm to investigate the attack.
Remediation — Hartford HealthCare
Hartford HealthCare has required all employees to change their email passwords and has disabled "the software that the unauthorized person used to carry out the attack."
Refund or compensation — Hartford HealthCare
For the 23 patients whose compromised information included a Social Security number, Hartford HealthCare is offering two years of free credit monitoring.
Source excerpt
Hartford HealthCare released a statement on April 13 warning patients about a cybersecurity incident that took place between February 13 and Valentine's Day (February 14) this year.
According to the notification, attackers gained access to patients' personal information after compromising email accounts belonging to two of Hartford HealthCare's more than 30,000 employees.
The organization said that it had found no evidence that any of the information that had been accessed in the incident had been misused.