A cyberattack has disrupted hospital computer systems in multiple US states. As a result, the cyberattack forced some emergency rooms to shut down and redirect ambulances. Many primary care services also remained closed on Friday. Security experts are currently investigating the issue and trying to fix it, AP News reported Friday.
Cyberattack disrupted hospital computer systems at Prospect Medical Holdings facilities across multiple states
The cyberattack started at facilities run by Prospect Medical Holdings. The attack impacted their facilities in several states, including California, Texas, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
“Upon learning of this, we took our systems offline to protect them and launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity specialists,” the company stated.
The company mentioned that they are currently investigating the situation. However, their primary focus is on attending to the urgent needs of their patients. They are working with dedication to restore normal operations as soon as they can.
On Thursday, the emergency departments at Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals in Connecticut remained closed for a significant part of the day. Patients were redirected to other nearby medical centers during this time.
“We have a national Prospect team working and evaluating the impact of the attack on all of the organizations,” Jillian Menzel, chief operating officer for the Eastern Connecticut Health Network told AP.
Hospitals activate contingency plans to address cybersecurity incidents and ensure patient care
The FBI in Connecticut released a statement mentioning that they are cooperating with other law enforcement agencies and the affected organizations in an ongoing investigation. The cyberattack put various services, such as elective surgeries, outpatient appointments, and blood drives, on hold.
While emergency departments reopened late on Thursday, many primary care services remained closed on Friday. The update was provided by the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, the organization that manages these facilities. The network is reaching out to patients individually to keep them informed. Other facilities within the system reported similar disruptions.
“Waterbury Hospital is following downtime procedures, including the use of paper records, until the situation is resolved,” spokeswoman Lauresha Xhihani told the press. “We are working closely with IT security experts to resolve it as quickly as possible.”
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, in Pennsylvania, the cyberattack impacted services at several facilities. These included Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, and Springfield Hospital in Springfield.
