A cyberattack has caused a disruption in clinical operations at major health care nonprofit Ascension, which operates 140 hospitals and 40 senior living facilities across 19 states. The incident has prompted Ascension to take steps to minimize any impact on patient care.
According to a statement from Ascension, the organization detected unusual activity on some of its computer systems, leading to an investigation and notification to the appropriate authorities. While the full extent and duration of the disruption are still being assessed, Ascension has initiated procedures to ensure that patient care delivery remains safe and minimally impacted.
As a precautionary measure, Ascension has recommended that its health care clients temporarily disconnect their network connections to Ascension while the incident is being addressed. The nonprofit has also stated that if any sensitive patient data was compromised in the cyberattack, affected individuals will be notified.
While the spokesperson did not confirm whether the incident involved ransomware, it is worth noting that health care providers in the US have been increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks in recent years. These attacks have not only disrupted patient care but have also resulted in significant financial losses for health care organizations.
For instance, a ransomware attack on a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group in February caused billing disruptions at pharmacies nationwide and posed a threat to the financial stability of some health providers. The prevalence of such cyber threats underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the health care industry to safeguard patient data and ensure uninterrupted care delivery.
