Prospect Medical Holdings, the parent company of Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) and Waterbury HEALTH, recently announced that all its facilities were facing IT complications. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently investigating the ECHN ransomware attack and the Waterbury HEALTH cyber attack, with the former leading to the diversion of emergency room (ER) patients.
As a result of the ECHN ransomware attack, the emergency rooms at Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital were rendered non-functional. This prompted the staff to resort to manual record maintenance of patients. The hackers responsible for these attacks have not made their ransom demands clear.
In response to these incidents, The Cyber Express reached out to Prospect Medical Holdings for comments. However, no response has been received yet.
Prospect Medical Holdings acknowledged the IT complications in a notice, stating that various facilities were affected after the PMH cyber attack. Specific services and locations that would remain closed included the Center for Wound Healing, Urgent Care Center, Women’s Center for Wellness, and several others.
Furthermore, elective surgeries, appointments and procedures at the Gastroenterology department, and services at the Podiatry Clinic and Tolland Imaging Center were also impacted. Outpatient Laboratories were closed due to the ransomware attack.
Jillian Menzel, the Chief Operating Officer of ECHN, confirmed that it was indeed a ransomware attack. The extent of the attack, however, remains uncertain.
Waterbury HEALTH also reported that all its inpatient and outpatient operations were affected by the cyber attack on its systems. The healthcare institution made this announcement through its Facebook page, confirming the Waterbury HEALTH ransomware attack.
Frederick Scholl, the Director of the cybersecurity program at Quinnipiac University, expressed concern over the ECHN cyber attack. He emphasized the time-sensitive nature of such attacks, particularly in emergency room settings. Cybercriminals often take advantage of this vulnerability to extort money.
As of now, no hacker or ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the PMH cyber attacks. The emergency departments at Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital were forced to divert ambulance services due to the attack. However, patients can still seek help by walking into these hospitals for emergency care.
Prospect Medical Holdings owns 16 hospitals and over 165 outpatient facilities and clinics in Southern California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. The impact of the ransomware attack on the two Connecticut health networks has left some patients in search of alternative options for medical assistance.
Patients and individuals affected by the attacks expressed their concerns to News 8. One person mentioned the fear and worry that arises when such incidents occur in hospitals. Another patient who had come for treatment expressed frustration, stating that they couldn’t see anybody or receive prescriptions.
Moving forward, Frederick Scholl emphasized the importance of maintaining cyber hygiene. This includes being diligent and aware of the safety of home computers, medical records, and bank records to prevent further incidents.
In conclusion, Prospect Medical Holdings and its facilities, including ECHN and Waterbury HEALTH, are currently facing IT complications due to ransomware attacks. The investigation by the FBI is underway, and efforts are being made to resume normal operations and ensure the safety of patients and their records.