FBI investigates Connecticut ransomware attack
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Eastern Connecticut Health Network and Waterbury Health confirmed that they are experiencing healthcare delivery disruptions as part of cyberattacks that hit on Thursday, according to a News 8 report.
ECHN and Waterbury Health are part of Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings, which owns 16 hospitals and more than 165 clinics and outpatient centers in California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas.
"It was a ransomware attack," Jillian Menzel, ECHN’s chief operating officer, told the local Connecticut news outlet.
"We are unsure at this time of the extent of that attack. We have a prospect team that is working on that. There’s a national command center that is working on that currently," she reportedly said.
On its Facebook page, Waterbury Health confirmed its computer systems are down and clinical staff have resorted to paper records, News 8 said. The report also says that Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital's emergency departments are diverting ambulance services.
In a statement the outlet said it received, Robert Fuller, special agent in charge of the FBI's New Haven Field Office, said there is no further information on the ongoing investigation. As of press time, no statement has been posted in the office's online press room.
No statements have been posted to Prospect Medical Holdings' website at this time.
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.