Hackers broke into the computer networks at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center two weeks ago.
The cancer center says it detected unauthorized activity Nov. 19. It’s now telling patients to monitor their bank statements and credit reports.
The breach happened on the clinical network. Fred Hutch has not revealed more details about what data was hacked, but says it will notify people whose information was involved.
The incident is being treated as a possible federal crime. The center has called in a forensic security firm to investigate, and notified federal law enforcement.
Clinics remain open but the clinical computer network used by personnel was taken offline for security.
The center tells patients to report any suspicious bank activity and to review identity theft prevention tips by the Federal Trade Commission.
https://spinsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cc919f70a140fa05ca5e3464d9719764.jpg628942SecureTechhttps://spinsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SS-Logo.svgSecureTech2023-12-04 21:00:082023-12-04 21:00:08Hackers break into Fred Hutch computer network, patients warned to watch accounts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A ransomware attack has prompted a health care chain that operates 30 hospitals in six states to divert patients from some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals while postponing certain elective procedures.
Ardent Health Services said it took its network offline after the Nov. 23 cyberattack, adding in a statement that it suspended user access to information technology applications such as software used to document patient care.
By Tuesday afternoon, more than half of Ardent’s 25 emergency rooms had resumed accepting some patients by ambulance or by fully lifting their “divert” status, Ardent spokesperson Will Roberts said. Divert status means hospitals have asked ambulances to take people needing emergency care to other nearby facilities. Roberts said hospitals nationwide have at times used divert status during flu season, COVID-19 surges, natural disasters and large trauma events.
The company said it could not yet confirm the extent of any compromised patient health or financial information. It reported the issue to law enforcement and retained third-party forensic and threat intelligence advisers, while working with cybersecurity specialists to restore IT functions as quickly as possible. There was no immediate timeline for resolving the problems.
Based in the Nashville, Tennessee, suburb of Brentwood, Ardent owns and operates 30 hospitals and more than 200 care sites with upwards of 1,400 aligned providers in Oklahoma, Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Idaho and Kansas.
Ardent said each hospital is still providing medical screenings and stabilizing care to patients arriving at emergency rooms.
In Amarillo, Texas, William Spell said he and his mother have had flu-like symptoms for days but couldn’t make a doctor’s appointment through an online patient portal because of the cyberattack.
“We are trying to figure out other options as to what to do next,” said Spell, 34.
BSA Health System – the Ardent umbrella provider for Spell’s clinic and other facilities in the city – said it was working to restore its patient portal and system for video doctors’ visits. Spell said his…
Hillcrest HealthCare System is diverting some emergency room patients amid a possible hack of its computer system.
In response to a Tulsa World inquiry on Friday afternoon, a Hillcrest spokesperson confirmed that the issue affecting access to patient charts was discovered on Thursday.
“Yesterday, we became aware of a network outage due to a potential security incident that is affecting Hillcrest HealthCare System,” stated Hillcrest’s written response. “Our team is working to assess the impact of this outage and restore access, and we will follow established downtime protocols as needed.
“Patient care has not been adversely impacted. As a precaution, some emergency rooms are currently on divert status.”
Hillcrest’s related MyChart access for patients was also down.
People are also reading…
Hillcrest is a comprehensive health system with approximately 6,500 employees.
Its hospitals and clinics spread across eastern Oklahoma include Hillcrest Medical Center and Hillcrest Hospital South in Tulsa, the Oklahoma Heart Institute, Bailey Medical Center in Owasso, Hillcrest Hospital Claremore, Hillcrest Hospital Cushing, Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta, Hillcrest Hospital Pryor, Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital and Utica Park Clinic.
The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
Users can customize the app so you see the stories most important to you. You can also sign up for personalized notifications so you don’t miss any important news.
https://spinsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/65396d640bb33.image_.jpg6301200SecureTechhttps://spinsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SS-Logo.svgSecureTech2023-11-25 10:00:062023-11-25 10:00:06Hillcrest diverts some patients amid possible computer hack
Five Southwestern Ontario hospitals were hit by a ransomware attack on Oct. 23, 2023. (CBC/Erie Shores Healthcare Facebook – image credit)
For the first time, top leadership from the five hospitals in southwestern Ontario hit by a ransomware attack answered questions from the media — acknowledging the significant impact the incident has had on care, as well as the large amount of data that has been stolen.
During the roughly 50-minute meeting on Friday, each hospital CEO said their facility has been hard hit by the Oct. 23 attack, but that recovery is ongoing and they’re getting by with the hard work of staff. With systems down and hospitals unable to access critical information, thousands of patient appointments have been cancelled across the five hospitals, creating backlogs of varying lengths at some of the facilities.
Some of the institutions also said that they have started reaching out to the thousands of patients and staff whose information has been leaked onto the dark web. The hospitals are providing those impacted with a free credit monitoring service.
The hospital CEOs also stood behind IT provider TransForm, saying that they are “confident” the group is working hard to get systems back online, with a priority on clinical services.
“We apologize for this. And we apologize for the inconvenience this has had and the issues this has caused for the patients in our community,” said Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj.
“But I can tell you individually and collectively, our focus is on them and our focus is on our staff to regain that trust.”
Here are the latest updates each hospital shared.
Bluewater Health
Bluewater Health in Sarnia says without access to its systems, “there has been an impact on our families and patient experience.”
CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer says urgent and emergency cases have been prioritized and as a result, their diagnostic imaging department has had to cancel more than 3,500 appointments, causing a “significant and growing backlog.”
She also says labs in the Sarnia and Petrolia regions are deferring walk-in, non-urgent cases to deal with emergent ones.
She says staff have been notifying patients of changes to their…
https://spinsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/4f7b85aa8d04a465e2eba5476a482985.jpeg9001200SecureTechhttps://spinsafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SS-Logo.svgSecureTech2023-11-17 15:00:062023-11-17 15:00:06Hospitals hit by ransomware attack break down impact on operations, patients
