CNN: Major US health system diverts ambulances after cyberattack
A major health system in the United States, Ascension, announced on Thursday that it is diverting ambulances from “several” of its hospitals following a cyberattack earlier this week. The St. Louis-based nonprofit network, which includes 140 hospitals in 19 states, also reported disruptions to electronic health records, phone systems, and various systems used for tests, procedures, and medications.
Due to the cyberattack, Ascension is implementing downtime procedures, including the use of backup processes such as paper records to continue patient care. The healthcare network has notified federal authorities, hired cybersecurity firm Mandiant, and shut down systems in an effort to contain the incident.
While the exact number of hospitals affected by the cyberattack is unknown, Ascension assures that they are supporting staff to provide safe patient care with established downtime protocols. This incident marks the latest in a string of hacking incidents targeting large American healthcare networks, prompting authorities to offer assistance.
In a similar incident in February, a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, caused billing disruptions at pharmacies nationwide and raised concerns about the healthcare system’s vulnerability to cyberattacks. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty revealed in congressional testimony that a third of Americans could have had their personal data compromised in the attack, leading the company to pay a $22 million ransom to protect patient data.
The cyberattack on Ascension underscores the ongoing threats to the U.S. healthcare system from disruptive cyberattacks, emphasizing the importance of strong cybersecurity measures to protect patient information and ensure uninterrupted care.