While most of the phone systems operate around the Hospital Sisters Health System, representatives have not yet clarified whether patients’ medical records have been compromised due to the latest cybersecurity attack.
Damond W. Boatwright, president and CEO of Springfield Health System, confirmed the attack in a video posted to the HSHS website. According to Boatwright, HSHS is working with law enforcement on the incident, which was first reported on August 27.
HSHS CEO confirms system-wide power outage was due to ‘cyber security incident’
And as the outage begins its second week, here are some things to know:
Are HSHS hospitals, emergency rooms and clinics open?
Most HSHS locations around Illinois and Wisconsin remain open, although there have been some individual closures in southern Illinois due to outages. HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield and HSHS St. Francis in Litchfield for any closures. None of the HSHS clinics in Springfield are closed.
What is still affected by the outage?
Workers are still trying to restore the affected clinical, administrative, and communications systems, including MyChart communications, which help patients schedule, manage, and verify appointments; message sponsorship teams; pay the bills; Get test results, post-visit instructions, and request prescription refills.
HSHS reports that nearly all hospital and clinic phone lines are back in service, although service may be spotty while the system still sees some connectivity issues. Email works too.
Patient billing services remain suspended.
Is there a timeline for restoring downed systems?
HSHS said it was working “hard” and “making steady progress” to get all of its systems online again although the update posted to its website Monday night did not mention a time frame.
What about scheduling appointments?
HSHS recommends calling your provider or contacting the HSHS hospital to check appointment dates and times.
The healthcare provider will contact patients to reschedule canceled appointments as soon as possible.
What about refilling prescriptions?
HSHS published that the inpatient pharmacy was operating successfully during the outage. HSHS St. John’s Community for outpatients is unable to access or fill digital prescription orders. Patients are urged to contact their provider for an alternative pharmacy.
Some HSHS hospitals provide patients with written prescriptions to take to the pharmacy of their choice.
What about contacting home health nurses or nurse practitioners?
Nurses will call patients the night before or the morning of scheduled visits. Patients who need access to home health or nursing home nurses can call (800) 551-6566. The number is available 24/7.
What about suspicious payment collection or invoices?
HSHS does not collect payments from patients for outstanding bills. Patients will be notified when billing processes are running. However, HSHS said some of its partners in the system bill patients.
HSHS reported last week that patients were receiving emails, texts, and phone calls from parties claiming to be HSHS representatives asking for payment for services. She said patients should not respond to any messages that look suspicious. HSHS requires patients to save correspondence so that it can trace and investigate the source. Information should be sent to questions@hshs.org.
Was any patient information compromised?
HSHS posted that the process of investigating the “scope of the incident is ongoing and will take time to complete. If we determine that there is sensitive and personal patient information, we will notify them in accordance with applicable law.”
Who is investigating the incident?
HSHS confirmed that federal agencies were involved in the investigation.
“Under FBI policy, we cannot confirm or deny whether or not we are conducting an investigation,” said Rebecca Cramblett, FBI Springfield Public Affairs Officer. “This policy protects the integrity of the investigation as well as any associated victims and the judiciary.” practical.”
According to one publication, the FBI is the leading federal agency investigating cybersecurity attacks.
Where do I go to get information?
HSHS has a page dedicated to updates at www.hshsupdates.org.
Contact Stephen Sperry: (217) 622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; Exe, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.