Ascension Wisconsin hospitals hit by cyberattack, disrupting care

Ascension hospitals in Wisconsin and nationwide were significantly disrupted by a cyberattack on Wednesday, affecting their computer networks and patient care services. The attack led to canceled appointments and delays, with healthcare workers resorting to paper records due to inaccessible digital medical systems like Epic.

The cyberattack's impact continues to be felt, with ongoing confusion and compromised care delivery. Ascension's CEO has communicated to staff that the resolution timeline remains unclear, and the health system is working with cybersecurity experts to manage the situation and investigate any potential data breaches.

This incident highlights the growing trend of cyberattacks on healthcare facilities, which can severely affect patient care and data security. Earlier this year, a major cyberattack on Change Healthcare resulted in a significant ransom payment, underscoring the vulnerability of healthcare systems to digital threats.