Two hospitals in New York are still working to return to normal operations after a reported ransomware attack last month. Although hospital operations continue to be affected, LockBit is threatening to release data seized on September 19 if a ransom is not paid.
WHY IT MATTERS
Carthage Area Hospital is a 25-bed facility. According to a press release Posted on the hospital’s Facebook page on September 7, dialysis, cancer treatment and wound care appointments would go ahead as planned.
Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center is a 127-bed community hospital that also specializes in pediatric and mental health care. On Wednesday, the center posted a message announcement told Facebook that appointments at health centers and doctor’s practices in the region will be moved to September 13 and 14.
While telephone systems reportedly recovered on September 2, the two medical facilities have diverted ambulances to other area hospitals and are in the process of rescheduling appointments for most services, including cardiology and laboratories.
According to The Record, the ongoing system recovery is being supported by the FBI, the New York State Department of Health and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
The report Noted Thursday, LockBit added the hospital to the ransomware leak site with a deadline to pay the ransom by September 19.
THE BIG TREND
LockBit has previously attacked hospitals to steal patient and employee data.
In June, a small hospital in Ohio used a ransomware recovery tool to decrypt its files after a LockBit attack, while in January LockBit offered a decryptor to Toronto-based SickKids in an apology on the dark web.
Rich Duvall, CEO of both hospitals, told local news that Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center have recovered most of their data, but confirmed that LockBit has protected health information and other data from being backed up. create their data. demand ransom.
ON THE RECORD
“We have been notified by the threat actors or the people who committed this crime, this is a ransomware attack and they are demanding a ransom,” Rich Duvall, CEO of both hospitals, told WWNY News 7.
Andrea Fox is editor-in-chief of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.