Ascension Health System Cyberattack Disrupts Hospitals Across 19 States

A cyberattack on the Ascension health system has caused chaos in hospitals across 19 states in the U.S., forcing ambulances to be diverted, medical tests to be postponed, and online access to patient records to be blocked.

The attack, which was detected on Wednesday, has left the non-profit Catholic health system scrambling to restore its systems. While officials have not confirmed whether it was a ransomware attack, the hallmarks of such an attack are present. The health system has called in Mandiant, a leading cybersecurity unit, to assist in the investigation.

Patients have been left in limbo as both electronic records and the MyChart system, which allows patients to access their records and communicate with their doctors, are offline. Ambulances have been diverted from several hospitals, causing delays in emergency care.

In Wichita, Kansas, all ambulance calls were diverted from Ascension hospitals on Wednesday, but the full diversion ended on Thursday afternoon. Similar situations were reported in Pensacola, Florida, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where patients were missing crucial tests and medications.

Healthcare providers are struggling to cope with the situation, resorting to paper records and facing delays in patient care. The lack of information about the attack and when operations will return to normal has added to the frustration.

Cybersecurity experts warn that ransomware attacks in the healthcare sector are on the rise, with data theft becoming a common tactic to extort payments. Ascension is working tirelessly to investigate and restore its systems, but the impact of the attack is likely to be felt for some time.

The attack on Ascension comes on the heels of a similar incident at Change Healthcare earlier this year, which caused disruptions in insurance reimbursements and added stress to doctor’s offices nationwide. It remains unclear if the same group is responsible for both attacks.

As healthcare systems grapple with the growing threat of cyberattacks, patients are advised to bring detailed notes to appointments and be prepared for delays in care. The full extent of the damage caused by the attack on Ascension is yet to be determined, but the repercussions are likely to be felt for months to come.