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Ascension ‘Cybersecurity Incident’ Pauses Some Elective Procedures And Appointments
May 10, 2024
Ascension Healthcare and Ascension Sacred Heart have paused some “non-emergent elective procedures, tests and appointments” following a cybersecurity incident.
Late Thursday afternoon an Ascension spokesperson said:
“Systems that are currently unavailable include our electronic health records system, MyChart (which enables patients to view their medical records and communicate with their providers), some phone systems, and various systems utilized to order certain tests, procedures and medications. We have implemented established protocols and procedures to address these particular system disruptions in order to continue to provide safe care to patients. Out of an abundance of caution, however, some non-emergent elective procedures, tests and appointments have been temporarily paused while we work to bring systems back online. Our teams are working directly with any patient whose appointment or procedure will need to be rescheduled. We understand the frustration this may cause and sincerely regret any inconvenience to our patients.
“Due to downtime procedures, several hospitals are currently on diversion for emergency medical services in order to ensure emergency cases are triaged immediately. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact 911 and your local emergency services will bring you to the nearest hospital emergency room.”
The company also said, “We have determined this is a cybersecurity incident. We are working around the clock with internal and external advisors to investigate, contain, and restore our systems following a thorough validation and screening process. Our investigation and restoration work will take time to complete, and we do not have a timeline for completion.
“It is expected that we will be utilizing downtime procedures for some time. Patients should bring to their appointment notes on their symptoms and a list of current medications and prescription numbers or the prescription bottles so their care team can call in medication needs to pharmacies.”
Comments
6 Responses to “Ascension ‘Cybersecurity Incident’ Pauses Some Elective Procedures And Appointments”
@MPayton
Oh, your hospital used ELECTRICITY? The same thing that we used to use to execute people?
Hospitals ran just fine before the invention of lightbulbs and telephones. I said it then and I’ll say it now. Electricity will be the death of us.
This is what happens when you rely on computers. I started nursing 40 years ago. Hospitals ran just fine without computers and nurses were able to do their jobs as were all other departments, our worst fear was a power outage. We didnt have computers to think for us. I said it then and Ill say it now. Computers will be the death of us.
This is probably more than a case of some man living in their mother’s basement with a computer. This is probably more of a government backed hacking/information gathering plot.
@Mike J
I completely agree. The idea of patients being denied access to healthcare because a small group of greedy people want to exploit them for profit is disgusting.
So all because some low-life jerk wants to steal people’s personal information, real people who have real needs are having their medical care affected due to criminal greed. If they are caught, they should be kept in a cell with no computer, TV, or personal devices whatsoever for several years then released in the Artic tundra. Or even better they should be kept in a reinforced glass cage in the lobby of the hospital so they can see the people coming in and out that need real medical care and what their cybersecurity hack cost people in terms of health care, not just money.
Everything electronic is down, we cannot chart, call lights are not working, just alarming. We can’t see labs, test results. We are having trouble communicating with other departments and have to fax or use the tube system to get the vital things we need! This is more than an incovenience, it’s a med error waiting to happen.