US largest hospital provider Ascension fires IT staff cost-cutting cyber attack

Cyberattack cripples major US hospitals, leaving staff unable to access critical systems. Chaos ensues as Ascension engages Mandiant for incident response.

Ascension, one of the largest hospital operators in the US, is currently facing a major cyberattack that has disrupted critical systems like Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software, leading to chaos in major hospitals across the country.

The incident was confirmed by Ascension, who noted "unusual activity on select technology network systems, which we now believe is due to a cyber security event." The Catholic non-profit has engaged Mandiant for incident response and has initiated an investigation and remediation efforts to address the issue. As a result, access to some systems has been interrupted during this process.

Reports indicate that the impact of the cyberattack has been felt in multiple states, including Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Michigan. Doctors and staff have been struggling to navigate the chaos caused by the disruption, with one doctor expressing frustration over the lack of access to necessary forms and procedures.

Ascension, a sprawling entity with 140 hospitals in 18 states, has been undergoing significant cost-cutting measures in recent years. This cybersecurity incident comes on the heels of a decision to outsource IT roles to India, which resulted in backlash from former employees.

In addition, Ascension recently announced plans to outsource "hospitalist" roles to private equity-backed SCP Health, further complicating the situation for medical directors, doctors, and nurse practitioners previously employed by the company.

The cyberattack on Ascension follows a similar incident involving Change Healthcare, a healthcare tech and payments provider, who paid a $22 million ransom after an attack on its systems in February. The company reported over $1.6 billion in damages as a result of the attack, with significant direct costs incurred in response efforts.

As Ascension works to address the crisis and regain control of its systems, ambulances are being diverted from its hospitals to manage the situation. The impact of the cyberattack on the company's operations and patient care remains to be seen as the situation unfolds.