Cybersecurity Woes for Healthcare: The Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital Attack and the Urgent Need for Stronger Protection

Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida recently suffered a cybersecurity attack that disrupted operations on May 8. The hospital provided an update on their progress, stating that they have restored the primary technology used for electronic patient documentation, allowing most departments, physician offices, and clinics to resume using electronic documentation, charting, and ordering systems. This should result in improved efficiencies and reduced wait times for patients.

However, the hospital’s team is still working to restore other ancillary technology systems that were affected by the cyber attack. During the event, phone and computer access was down at some healthcare facilities, forcing medical professionals to take patient notes by hand. Some appointments and medical procedures had to be postponed as a result of the attack.

As part of a larger health system that includes 140 hospitals and 40 senior living facilities in 19 states with multiple locations in Northeast Florida, St. Vincent’s Hospital is just one example of how ransomware attacks on healthcare providers have become increasingly common in recent years, disrupting patient care and costing millions if not billions of dollars. Despite these challenges, the team at St. Vincent’s Hospital is working diligently to ensure that all systems are fully restored and that patient care can resume as normal. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in the healthcare industry and the ongoing efforts needed to protect patient information and maintain operations.