Ransomware attack prompts multistate hospital chain to divert some emergency room patients elsewhere
A ransomware attack has prompted a health care chain that operates in six states to divert patients from at least some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A ransomware attack has prompted a health care chain that operates 30 hospitals in six states to divert patients from at least some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals, while putting certain elective procedures on pause, the company announced.
In a statement Monday, Ardent Health Services said the attack occurred Nov. 23 and the company took its network offline, suspending user access to its information technology applications, including the software used to document patient care.
The Nashville, Tennessee-based company said it cannot yet confirm the extent of any patient health or financial information that has been compromised. Ardent says it reported the issue to law enforcement and retained third-party forensic and threat intelligence advisors, while working with cybersecurity specialists to restore IT functions as quickly as possible. There's no timeline yet on when the problems will be resolved.
Ardent owns and operates 30 hospitals and more than 200 care sites with upwards of 1,300 employees in Oklahoma, Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Idaho and Kansas.
