Ascension, a major health care nonprofit that operates 140 hospitals and 40 senior living facilities in 19 states, has experienced a cyberattack that has disrupted clinical operations. The organization is taking steps to minimize the impact on patient care and ensure safe delivery.
Following unusual activity on some of its computer systems, Ascension initiated an investigation and notified authorities. In response to the incident, patients are recommended to temporarily cut off network connections to the organization.
Ascension is working diligently to mitigate any damage caused by the cyberattack and restore normal operations as soon as possible. If any sensitive patient data was compromised during the attack, affected individuals will be notified promptly. It is not yet confirmed whether the incident involved ransomware or not.
Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in recent years, disrupting patient care and costing millions of dollars in damages. Just last February, a ransomware attack on a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group caused billing disruptions at pharmacies across the US and threatened to put some health providers out of business. The Ascension spokesperson did not respond to follow-up questions regarding the nature of the cyberattack.