Ascension affected by ‘cyber security event’

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Ascension is recommending that business partners temporarily suspend the connection to the Ascension environment due to what they believe is a “cyber security event.”

Sedgwick County dispatch confirmed on Wednesday that EMS was diverting patients to other emergency facilities for the time being. Ascension Via Christi now states that they have stopped diverting burn, stemi, stroke and trauma patients. Other patients are still being seen elsewhere.

According to Ascension, on Wednesday, May 8, they detected “unusual activity” on select technology systems.

“We responded immediately, initiated our investigation and activated our remediation efforts,” said Ascension. “Our care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible. There has been a disruption to clinical operations, and we continue to assess the impact and duration of the disruption.”

Ascension has since stated the specific systems that have been interrupted as the investigation continues are their electronic health records system, MyChart (which enables patients to view their medical records and communicate with their providers), some phone systems, and various systems utilized to order certain tests, procedures and medications.

Some non-emergent elective procedures, tests and appointments have been temporarily paused while Ascension works to bring systems back online.

A spokesperson from Ascension says that they are making the impact on patients as “minimal as possible.” However, the cyber situation is affecting their responsibilities.

“We are paper charting all medications, and all lab orders are being hand-written and sent by pneumatic tube systems to the unit they’re supposed to go to,” said Ascension Via Christi union RN Lisa Watson.

She also says they are using the intercom system to send “code blue” calls instead of being able to page people directly. There is no word on when systems will be back online.

Ascension has engaged Madiant, a third-party expert, to assist in the investigation and remediation process. Ascension has also notified the appropriate authorities.

“Together, we are working to fully investigate what information, if any, may have been affected by the situation,” said Ascension. “Should we determine that any sensitive information was affected, we will notify and support those individuals in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal guidelines.”

Ascension will inform business partners when it is safe to reconnect.

For the latest update from Ascension, click here.

Ascensions across the United States are affected, including Florida, Texas and Wisconsin.

A local cyber security expert who is not directly involved in this investigation says large organizations are a target for big money.

“You know cyber attackers are trying to find great points of entry. They’re going to gain them a lot of money and ransom, and so they seem to be going after some of the bigger names to get those bigger payouts,” said Bill Ramsey, CEO of Soteria Technology Solutions.

KSN will provide more information as it becomes available.