Hackers have gained access to the names, Social Security numbers, physical addresses, birthdays and telephone numbers of patients of Community Health Systems, which operates 206 hospitals in 28 states across the United States.
The large data breach puts these people at heightened risk of identity fraud. That allows criminals open bank accounts and credit cards on their behalf, take out loans and ruin personal credit history.
http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/18/technology/security/hospital-chs-hack/