Hospitals in Pennsylvania and Connecticut have been forced to divert ambulances to other medical facilities due to a recent ransomware attack that knocked their computer systems offline. The attack targeted Prospect Medical Holdings (PMH), impacting all of its healthcare facilities, including 16 hospitals across California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
Crozer Health, a network consisting of three hospitals and a medical center in the Philadelphia suburbs, is still diverting ambulances for stroke and trauma patients to other hospitals as a precautionary measure. Lori Bookbinder, a spokesperson for Crozer Health, confirmed that the disruptions were a result of a ransomware attack.
At Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which includes two hospitals, the urgent care center has been closed, and elective surgeries have been canceled until further notice due to the cyberattack. Other affiliates of Prospect Medical Holdings also reported disruptions caused by the hack.
The White House has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation as the Department of Health and Human Services has been in contact with PMH to offer federal assistance. However, PMH has declined these offers so far, according to a US official.
CharterCARE Health Partners, which operates two hospitals in Rhode Island, has also experienced disruptions to their inpatient and outpatient operations. They alerted patients that certain procedures may be affected.
Despite the challenges posed by the cyberattack, patient care is continuing at the affected hospitals, albeit with limited capacity. Over the past year, numerous healthcare facilities across the United States have faced similar situations due to ransomware attacks.
It’s worth mentioning that this is not the first time Crozer Health has been targeted by ransomware. In June 2020, a ransomware attack orchestrated by a prolific gang forced the hospital network to temporarily take its computer systems offline.
Eastern Connecticut Health Network has ended ambulance diversion as of 10 a.m. local time on Friday, indicating progress in resolving the situation. Emergency rooms at both of their hospitals have remained open throughout the incident.
Ransomware attacks on hospitals and other healthcare institutions have become an increasingly common problem, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Such attacks highlight the vulnerability of the healthcare sector to cyber threats, which can severely affect patient care and medical services. It is crucial for healthcare organizations to bolster their cybersecurity measures to prevent future attacks and ensure the continuity of critical healthcare services.
