Ascension Healthcare provides update following cybersecurity incident

Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham hopes its new electrophysiology lab will allow heart patients access to cardiac care faster. (Photo courtesy of Neal Posey)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Ascension Healthcare network has provided an update following a nationwide cybersecurity event last week.

The following release was sent out by Ascension St. Vincent’s communication office:

Ascension previously reported that it experienced a ransomware attack that has caused disruptions to patient care in its network. Our priority remains on providing safe patient care. Ascension, with the support of leading cybersecurity experts, worked around the clock over the weekend to respond to the ransomware incident affecting our systems. We are focused on restoring systems safely. We are making progress, however, it will take time to return to normal operations. As systems and services come back online, we will share those updates so that our patients and communities can plan accordingly. We have established a dedicated website to share any Alabama updates we have across our system.

According to the website, all Ascension St. Vincent’s hospitals, physician offices and care sites across Alabama are open and operational.

Patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays as the clinics transition to manual systems for documentation. Patients are encouraged to bring notes on symptoms and a list of current medications, including prescription numbers or bottles, to appointments.

Certain Ascension Rx retail pharmacies in Alabama are not operational. Staff members will work with patients to find an alternative pathway for fulfillment at another pharmacy.