KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A ransomware attack on the computer systems of Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo and other hospitals in the Acension network continues to affect its facilities.
While Acension continues to maintain that its hospitals, doctors offices, and other sites remain “open and operational,” the St. Louis-based Catholic health-care giant has a new problem: it can no longer fill prescriptions.
In an online post, Acension says “Please ask your doctor to send your prescription to a different pharmacy while we work to get our systems back online. If you can’t get your medicine from another pharmacy and you’re running out, call your local Ascension Rx retail pharmacy for help. Our pharmacies may be able to give you a short-term supply using your current prescription bottle.”
The problems began last week when the hospital system, which operates 15 Michigan hospitals, “detected unusual activity on select technology network systems.” Ascension acknowledged the “cybersecurity event” the following day, then later that same day referred to it as a “cybersecurity incident.” This past Saturday it confirmed the incident was an act of “ransomware.”
In a statement Friday afternoon, Acension Michigan officials said, “All Ascension hospitals, physician offices, and care sites remain open and operational. Despite the challenges posed by the recent ransomware attack, 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.
Our teams are working directly with any patient whose appointment or procedure will need to be rescheduled. Unless instructed otherwise by their care team, patients should continue to attend appointments as scheduled.”
The attack has cut off access to the system’s electronic health records system, disrupted phones as well as scheduling and testing processes, and in Kalamazoo, forced the rerouting of emergency room patients to Bronson Methodist Hospital.
That has reportedly overwhelmed the emergency room at Bronson, causing patient waits up between five and eight hours as they deal with the influx on patients.
(John McNeill contributed to this story)
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