Cyberattack led to harrowing lapses at Ascension hospitals, clinicians say
Can you describe the types of workarounds that Ascension hospital staff had to implement to manage patient care post-cyberattack?
Following the cyberattack on Ascension hospitals, staff had to implement various workarounds to manage patient care. These included using handwritten notes, faxes, sticky notes, and basic computer spreadsheets, many of which were devised on the fly by doctors and nurses. Some hospitals experienced delays in lab results, medication errors, and a lack of routine safety checks due to the loss of access to electronic systems. The situation led to increased workloads and potential for errors, causing concerns among staff about compromised patient care and the risk to their professional licenses.
How did Ascension's public statements address the cyberattack and the measures taken to restore services?
Ascension's public statements acknowledged the cyberattack and its impact on their systems, including electronic health records, some phones, and systems used to order tests, procedures, and medications. They stated that their care teams were trained for such disruptions and had initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continued to be safe and minimally impacted. Ascension also mentioned that they engaged with Mandiant, a cybersecurity firm, to assist in the investigation and remediation process. They have not provided specific details about the attack or its resolution but have committed to notifying and supporting affected individuals in accordance with applicable regulations.
What specific challenges did Marvin Ruckle, a nurse at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph, face during the cyberattack?
Marvin Ruckle, a nurse at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph, faced several challenges during the cyberattack. He had to manually verify medication dosages for his patients, as the computer system that reduced medication errors was inaccessible. This led to confusion in determining the correct dosages, and he nearly administered the wrong dose of narcotic to a baby due to unclear paperwork. Ruckle also reported that staffing levels were dangerously low, but his concerns were not addressed by management. The situation increased the risk of dangerous mistakes, causing stress for the nurses.