Cyberattack Hits Hospitals in Connecticut and Pennsylvania
A cyberattack on Thursday disrupted computer systems at hospitals in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, leading to the diversion of ambulances to other healthcare facilities. The attack, which was identified as a ransomware attack, affected Prospect Medical Holdings (PMH) and its affiliate, Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN). PMH owns 16 hospitals in California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
Crozer Health, a network of three hospitals and a medical center in the Philadelphia suburbs, was still diverting ambulances for stroke and trauma patients to other hospitals as of late Friday morning due to the attack. The urgent care center at ECHN, which includes two hospitals, is closed, and elective surgeries have been canceled until further notice.
Other affiliates of PMH also reported disruptions caused by the hack. However, executives from PMH did not respond to requests for comment. The White House’s National Security Council revealed that they are closely monitoring the incident and that the Department of Health and Human Services has been in contact with PMH, offering federal assistance to prevent any disruption to patient care.
Despite the offer of federal assistance, PMH has rejected the support so far, according to a US official. CharterCARE Health Partners, which operates two hospitals in Rhode Island, also announced that the incident was affecting both inpatient and outpatient operations, potentially impacting patient procedures.
While patient care continues at the affected hospitals, they are operating with limited capacity. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ransomware attacks and other cyber threats have posed challenges for American hospitals, which often lack the necessary resources to combat such attacks effectively.
On a positive note, ECHN ended ambulance diversion at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, and the emergency rooms at their two hospitals have remained open throughout the incident. However, this is not the first time Crozer Health has faced a ransomware attack. In June 2020, the hospital network experienced a similar disruption that forced their computer systems offline.
The cybersecurity incident serves as a reminder of the growing threat posed by ransomware attacks on critical healthcare infrastructure. It highlights the need for hospitals and healthcare organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and collaborate with government agencies to mitigate the impact of such attacks on patient care.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-05 01:52:00