Kettering Health System in Ohio Faces Cyberattack Impacting Patient Care
Kettering Health System in Ohio is currently dealing with a cyberattack that has disrupted patient care, the health system announced on Tuesday. The unauthorized access to its network has resulted in a system-wide technology outage, leading to the cancellation of elective inpatient and outpatient procedures for the day. The call center at Kettering is also offline, making it inaccessible to patients seeking assistance.
This incident has affected all 14 medical centers and 120 outpatient facilities operated by Kettering in Western Ohio. While elective procedures have been postponed, emergency rooms and clinics are still operational and attending to patients. The health system is actively working to contain and mitigate the impact of the cyberattack, while also investigating the situation.
Unfortunately, amidst the chaos, some patients have reported receiving scam phone calls from individuals claiming to be Kettering employees. These scammers are requesting credit card payments for medical expenses. Kettering has warned patients that it does not request or accept payments over the phone and has advised against responding to such fraudulent calls.
Cybersecurity threats have become a growing concern for the healthcare industry, with an increasing number of data breaches attributed to hacking and ransomware attacks. The ability of cybercriminals to disrupt healthcare operations and compromise sensitive patient data poses significant risks to providers and patients alike.
Recent incidents, such as the ransomware attack on UnitedHealth-owned claims processor Change Healthcare, which exposed data from 190 million individuals, highlight the severity of cybersecurity challenges in the healthcare sector. Yale New Haven Health and DaVita have also faced cybersecurity breaches in recent months, underscoring the ongoing threat to the industry.
As healthcare organizations continue to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity, it is crucial for them to prioritize data protection and implement robust security measures to safeguard patient information and ensure uninterrupted care delivery. The Kettering cyberattack serves as a reminder of the critical importance of cybersecurity in healthcare and the need for constant vigilance against evolving threats.
With cyberattacks posing a persistent risk to the healthcare industry, providers must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing security vulnerabilities to protect patient data and uphold the integrity of their operations.
