The Ascension health care network has announced that its clinical operations have been disrupted by a recent cyberattack. According to a news release, Ascension responded immediately and has interrupted access to some systems while remediation efforts are in progress. The care teams have implemented procedures to ensure that patient care delivery remains safe and minimally impacted. Although there has been a disruption to clinical operations, the impact and duration of the disruption continue to be assessed.
Ascension has hired the cybersecurity firm Mandiant Solutions to investigate the cyberattack and has notified the authorities. They are working together with Mandiant Solutions to fully investigate what information may have been affected in the situation. If any sensitive information was compromised, Ascension will notify and support those individuals according to regulatory and legal guidelines. Business partners have been advised to temporarily suspend their connection to the Ascension system.
Ascension, a nonprofit and Catholic health system, operates 14 hospitals in the Chicago area. These hospitals include Ascension Holy Family, Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Ascension St. Alexius, Ascension St. Mary and St. Elizabeth, Ascension St. Joseph, Ascension St. Francis, and Ascension Resurrection. In January, Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago also experienced a high-profile cyberattack which led to disruptions in regular operations.