TULSA, Okla. — Ascension is investigating a ‘ransomware incident’ after the company detected ‘unusual activity’ on certain network systems.
Ascension said they responded immediately by beginning to investigate and activating their ‘remediation efforts’.
The disturbance happened to the parent company of St. John, Ascension, but it has led to technical difficulties at the Tulsa hospital, and all other Ascension locations.
Emergency and in-house patient care is continuing to operate as usual. The difficulties stem from software and looking up information on their systems. So its led to some longer lines in the non-emergency, and also troubles getting in new patient appointments.
For those with upcoming surgeries, Ascension said patients should arrive on their scheduled surgery date as usual unless called and told otherwise.
Other hospitals including St. Francis and Hillcrest have seen a spike in new patients after the issue at Ascension, but said they are not overwhelmed.
Hillcrest released the following statement amid the spike in patients.
“Since last week, our two acute care metro hospitals have seen a slow but steady rise in both ER and transfer center volumes as we work to assist our neighbors. While our inpatient and emergency departments are much busier, our ability to deliver inpatient care has not been impacted. Diversions are not uncommon, and our teams are prepared to care for patients being brought to our facilities.”
OSU Medical Center released the following statement in response to the rise in patient numbers.
“OSU Medical Center is prepared daily for an influx of patients. While we have seen an increase, we continue to be able to provide the best care possible.”
A third party expert, Mandiant, was called to assist in the investigation and Ascension has notified the authorities including the FBI.
If any sensitive information was compromised, Ascension said they will notify and support those who were affected.
Ascension’s business partners are recommended to temporarily suspend their connection the Ascension environment and will inform them when its OK to reconnect.
Below is the most recent statement from Ascension St. John following the ransom ware incident.
“We continue to diligently investigate and address the recent ransomware incident, working closely with industry leading cybersecurity experts to assist in our investigation and restoration and recovery efforts. Additionally, we have notified law enforcement, as well as government partners including the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the American Hospital Association (AHA). We remain in close contact with the FBI and CISA, and we are sharing relevant threat intelligence with the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (H-ISAC) so that our industry partners and peers can take steps to protect themselves from similar incidents.
While our restoration work continues in earnest, our focus is on restoring systems as safely as possible. While we expect this process will take time to complete, we are making progress and systems are being restored in a coordinated manner at each of our care sites. We will continue to share updates on our recovery process.”
Ascension also released the following statement on what their current process looks like as they continue treating patients with some more recently frequently asked questions:
All Ascension St. John hospitals, physician offices, and care sites across the state remain open and operational. Despite the challenges posed by the recent ransomware incident, patient safety continues to be our utmost priority. Our dedicated doctors, nurses, and care teams are demonstrating incredible thoughtfulness and resilience as we utilize manual and paper based systems during the ongoing disruption to normal systems.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this unexpected situation. Rest assured, our commitment to the health and safety of our community remains our highest priority.
Can I go to my doctor’s appointment?
Ascension St. John Medical Partners doctor’s offices and care sites are operating with normal business hours, and all scheduled appointments are proceeding as planned.
Due to the transition to manual systems for patient documentation, patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays. To help with delays, patients should bring notes on symptoms and a list of current medications, including prescription numbers or bottles. In the event that appointments need to be rescheduled, an Ascension associate will contact patients directly.
Can I get my prescription filled?
Certain Ascension Rx retail pharmacies in Oklahoma are not operational. Patients are being asked to bring their prescription number or prescription bottle. We will work with patients to find an alternative pathway to get a fill at another pharmacy if ours is not an option. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Are Ascension’s urgent care centers open?
At this time, Ascension’s urgent care centers are fully operating. Due to the transition to manual systems for patient documentation and care at certain centers, patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays.
Are Ascension’s emergency rooms open?
All Ascension St. John emergency rooms remain open and accepting walk-in patients. Certain hospitals are currently implementing a diversion process for ambulance services for specific medical cases to ensure they are triaged most effectively. Diversion is the practice of an ambulance potentially bypassing an Ascension location to another facility. It is a normal course of operation, a fluid practice, and is dependent on a number of factors, including case severity, service lines, and availability. We are in constant communication with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers to ensure real-time updates on facility availability.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911, and local emergency services will transport you to the most appropriate hospital emergency room.
Can I still have my surgery?
Patients with upcoming scheduled elective surgeries should plan to arrive as planned unless otherwise notified. Should any rescheduling be necessary, a member of our care team will contact you directly.
Due to the transition to manual systems for patient documentation, patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays. To help with delays, patients should bring notes on symptoms and a list of current medications, including prescription numbers or bottles.
Will I be able to get my diagnostic imaging, other tests, and treatments?
Imaging, testing, and treatment are being offered at this time. However, patients may experience delays and some procedures may need to be rescheduled. Should any rescheduling be necessary, a member of our care team will contact you directly. We thank you for your patience.
Commitment to Quality Care:
Our care teams are well versed on dynamic situations and are appropriately trained to maintain high quality care during downtime. Our leadership, physicians, care teams, and associates are working to ensure patient care continues with minimal to no interruption. We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding.
Ascension said if you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 and emergency services will bring you to the nearest emergency room available.
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