In a recent update about the October ransomware attack, CommonSpirit Health assured patients that most affected providers have regained access to EHR systems.
After the ransomware attack by CommonSpirit Health in October, most of the affected hospitals and clinics in the health system once again have access to their EHR systems.
“Additionally, many patients can review their medical histories through the portal and we are working to restore appointment scheduling capabilities to the portal in cases where that feature is available,” CommonSpirit Health said.
“At this time, patients should contact their provider’s office directly to schedule an appointment.”
As previously reported, CommonSpirit began experiencing IT disruptions on October 3 as a result of an initial security incident. The nonprofit health system confirmed the incident as a ransomware attack.
CommonSpirit’s 1,000 care sites and 140 hospitals were not affected by the attack, but others experienced an impact on patient portal performance with appointment cancellations and delays. Many affected facilities also took their EHR system offline as a precaution.
“We care deeply about our patients and are sorry for any challenges or frustrations they may have experienced as a result of this incident,” it said.
“Thank you to our patients, providers, staff and partners as we continue to navigate the response and recovery process.”
As with all healthcare ransomware attacks, patient safety is a major concern. CommonSpirit Health takes steps to “facilitate clinician and patient communication, document the patient, and support our caregivers in following safety procedures and standards.”
Additionally, the health system is still working through how patient data was affected by the ransomware attack.
