Ransomware and patient safety: The dangers facing hospitals and how they can adapt

Becker's Healthcare October 12, 2021
Hannah Mitchell

Ransomware attacks on hospitals have direct consequences on hospital operations. Some facilities have been forced to divert ambulances, shut down computer systems and cut off access to EHRs.

What is less direct, is the effects of cyberattacks on patient outcomes, safety and whether they create increased mortality rates. As the harm of ransomware moves beyond reputational and encroaches on patient safety, Becker’s spoke with CIOs and patient safety groups to further examine the connection.

Direct connections between patient safety and ransomware attacks

A lawsuit alleges a July 2019 ransomware attack on Springhill Medical Center in Mobile, Ala., resulted in a baby’s death. Springhill had shut down its network for nearly eight days because of a ransomware attack.

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