A recent cyberattack on the major health care nonprofit, Ascension, has disrupted its clinical operations. This incident prompted the nonprofit to take steps to minimize any impact on patient care. In response to the unusual activity detected on some of its computer systems, Ascension has initiated procedures to ensure that patient care delivery remains safe and minimally impacted.
If any sensitive patient data was compromised in the hack, Ascension will notify those affected. While it is unclear whether the incident involved ransomware, health care providers in the US have faced multiple ransomware attacks in recent years. These attacks have disrupted patient care and resulted in significant financial losses for health providers. For example, in February, a ransomware attack on a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group caused billing disruptions at pharmacies nationwide and threatened to put some health providers out of business.
To prevent further damage, Ascension has recommended that its health care clients temporarily disconnect from its network while the situation is addressed. The nonprofit has taken steps to mitigate the impact of the cyberattack and is working closely with law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident fully. While it is too early to determine the extent of the damage caused by this attack, it is clear that health care providers must remain vigilant against cyber threats in order to protect their patients and their bottom line.