Cyberattack forces major US health care network to divert ambulances from hospitals

A major US healthcare network, Ascension, is diverting ambulances from several hospitals due to a cyberattack that disrupted electronic health records and other systems. The St. Louis-based nonprofit operates 140 hospitals across 19 states and is now relying on backup procedures to continue patient care.

The cyberattack, which also affected phone systems and test ordering, has led Ascension to engage cybersecurity firm Mandiant for recovery and to implement system shutdowns for control. This incident adds to a series of cyberattacks on US healthcare facilities, highlighting ongoing security vulnerabilities.