California-based Health-Care System Hacked, Disrupting Services and Prompting Investigation
A major health-care system based in California fell victim to a cyberattack this week, resulting in the disruption of services across affiliated locations. Prospect Medical Holdings, which owns numerous hospitals and operates a network of outpatient centers and clinics, was forced to rely on paper records as a consequence of the attack.
In response to the incident, Prospect Medical Holdings promptly took its systems offline to safeguard them and launched an investigation. The health-care system confirmed that it was working closely with the FBI and third-party cybersecurity experts to address the situation.
The Eastern Connecticut Health Network, a part of the Prospect system, experienced IT complications, leading to the closure of services such as outpatient medical imaging and outpatient blood draw. Additionally, two hospitals within the network diverted patients to other emergency rooms due to the cyberattack.
CharterCARE Health Partners in Rhode Island also faced computer system issues, impacting both inpatient and outpatient operations. The medical facility resorted to downtime procedures, including the utilization of paper records, until the problems are resolved.
Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut also felt the repercussions of the attack. Some of its outpatient services, including blood draw and diagnostic imaging, were unavailable during the incident. Similarly, the hospital relied on paper records for certain activities throughout the week.
Crozer Health in Pennsylvania reported system downtime on Thursday as well, echoing a similar attack it had experienced in 2020. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly prevalent, particularly within the healthcare sector, as organizations digitize patient records and migrate to cloud-based servers. Hackers leverage these attacks to prevent access to an organization’s computer network and demand ransom payments.
Prospect Medical Holdings emphasized its commitment to investigating the incident while prioritizing patient needs and returning to normal operations swiftly. The health-care system acknowledged the ever-present cybersecurity threats faced by healthcare organizations nationwide and expressed its collaboration with investigators and law enforcement agencies to address the urgent situation.
The recent cyberattack serves as a sobering reminder of the significant risks posed by cybersecurity threats to health-care organizations. As the healthcare sector continues to digitize and embrace technological advancements, it becomes crucial for organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity measures to safeguard patient data and ensure uninterrupted services.
