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Virus infects MedStar Health system’s computers, hospital officials say Virus infects MedStar Health system’s computers, hospital officials say
(35 minutes later)
A virus infected the computer system of MedStar Health on Monday, forcing one of the Washington region’s largest health care providers to shut down significant portions of its online operations.A virus infected the computer system of MedStar Health on Monday, forcing one of the Washington region’s largest health care providers to shut down significant portions of its online operations.
Hospital officials acknowledged the breach, which is being investigated by the FBI, but said they had “no evidence that information has been stolen.”Hospital officials acknowledged the breach, which is being investigated by the FBI, but said they had “no evidence that information has been stolen.”
“MedStar acted quickly with a decision to take down all system interfaces to prevent the virus from spreading throughout the organization,” spokeswoman Ann Nickels said in a statement. “We are working with our IT and cyber-security partners to fully assess and address the situation. Currently, all of our clinical facilities remain open and functioning.”“MedStar acted quickly with a decision to take down all system interfaces to prevent the virus from spreading throughout the organization,” spokeswoman Ann Nickels said in a statement. “We are working with our IT and cyber-security partners to fully assess and address the situation. Currently, all of our clinical facilities remain open and functioning.”
The $5 billion health-care system operates 10 hospitals and more than 250 outpatient facilities in the Washington region. It serves hundreds of thousands of patients and employs more than 30,000 people.The $5 billion health-care system operates 10 hospitals and more than 250 outpatient facilities in the Washington region. It serves hundreds of thousands of patients and employs more than 30,000 people.
Hospital staff reported that they were unable to access email or a vast database of patient records.Hospital staff reported that they were unable to access email or a vast database of patient records.
One employee told The Post that the entire Medstar computer system is inaccessible. One employee told The Post that the entire MedStar computer system was inaccessible.
“Even the lowest level staff can’t communicate with anyone. You can’t schedule patients, you can’t access records, you can’t do anything,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be used because she wasn’t authorized to speak about the incident.“Even the lowest level staff can’t communicate with anyone. You can’t schedule patients, you can’t access records, you can’t do anything,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be used because she wasn’t authorized to speak about the incident.
Employees, she added, are using paper charts to continue seeing patients. The woman also said she spoke to two other employees who saw a pop-up on their computer screens stating that they had been infected by a virus and asking for ransom in “some kind of internet currency.” She has not seen the pop-up herself.
The MedStar infection follows two recent cyber attacks against hospitals. In both cases, hackers deployed “ransomware” — a virus that holds systems hostage until victims pay for a key to regain access. Though the nature of the MedStar infection remains unclear, Nickels said Monday she had “not been told that it’s a ransom situation.”
“Ransomware” — a virus that holds systems hostage until victims pay for a key to regain access — has twice been deployed against hospitals in recent cyber attacks.
Last month, a hospital in Los Angeles paid hackers $17,000 in bitcoins, an internet currency, to free its system. Two weeks ago, a Kentucky facility announced it was in an “internal state of emergency” after a similar attack.Last month, a hospital in Los Angeles paid hackers $17,000 in bitcoins, an internet currency, to free its system. Two weeks ago, a Kentucky facility announced it was in an “internal state of emergency” after a similar attack.
Though the nature of MedStar infection remains unclear, Nickels said she had “not been told that it’s a ransom situation.” For MedStar, the infection’s impact may be widespread as staff members are forced to use paper charts and records.
“Everything will be slowed down tremendously,” said a man who has worked closely with the hospital for 15 years. “It’s huge.”
Appointments and surgeries will be delayed, he said, adding that it will take longer for lab results to come back, patients to receive tests and medications to be ordered.
MedStar has not announced how long it expects the system to remain offline.