Ascension Hospitals in Wisconsin and Nationally Hit by Cyberattack, Causing Disruptions in Patient Care
Hospitals within the Ascension network, both in Wisconsin and across the United States, were recently targeted by a cyberattack, leading to major disruptions in patient care. Health care workers reported being unable to access Epic, the medical records system, which hindered their ability to provide timely and accurate care to patients. Additionally, patients were unable to use MyChart, affecting their ability to make appointments and check important lab results.
In response to the cyberattack, Ascension CEO Joseph Impicciche assured that the company is diligently working to resolve the issues. However, the disruption has still led to delays in patient care and confusion among health care workers. The company detected unusual activity on select technology network systems, which was later determined to be a cyber security event.
While the disruption has impacted clinical operations, efforts are being made to ensure that patient care continues safely. Health care workers at Ascension St. Francis Hospital have been finding workarounds to provide care amidst the technology outage. Some patients scheduled for scans or imaging procedures were even sent away due to the inability to access physicians’ orders.
Cyberattacks in the healthcare industry are increasingly common and are a serious threat to patient privacy and safety. Ascension is currently working with Mandiant, a cybersecurity consulting company, to investigate the cyberattack. The national health system operates around 140 hospitals across 19 states and the District of Columbia, employing about 134,000 individuals. In southeastern Wisconsin and the Fox Valley alone, Ascension operates 17 hospitals in addition to physician offices and other health care facilities.
The cyberattack on Ascension hospitals highlights the vulnerability of our healthcare systems to malicious cyber threats and the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect patient information and ensure uninterrupted care.
