Mississippi Medical Center Shuts Down Clinics Following Ransomware Attack

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Mississippi Medical Center Forced to Close Clinics After Ransomware Attack

A major medical center in Mississippi has been forced to close all its clinics statewide after a ransomware attack crippled its IT systems.

Incident Details

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), which operates seven hospitals, 35 clinics, and over 200 telehealth sites, shut down all its clinic locations on Thursday in response to the attack.

The cyberattack, which was discovered on Thursday afternoon, took down many of the medical center’s IT systems and blocked access to electronic medical records.

As a result, UMMC was forced to cancel outpatient and ambulatory surgeries, procedures, and imaging appointments.

However, hospital services continue to operate using downtime procedures.

Investigation and Response

UMMC has activated its Emergency Operations Plan and is working with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI to investigate the incident.

The medical center’s website remains offline as officials assess the impact of the attack.

According to officials, the attackers have made contact with the medical center and are believed to be negotiating a ransom demand. However, no ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack. It is also possible that sensitive data may have been stolen during the attack, which could be used as leverage to pressure the medical center into paying the ransom.

Patient Care and Safety

Despite the disruption, officials have assured patients that clinical equipment and operations remain functional, and in-person classes will continue as scheduled.

“Patients in our hospital and our emergency department are being cared for,” said LouAnn Woodward, dean of the school of medicine at UMMC. “All of our equipment works, and all of our patients are being taken care of safely.”

Broader Implications

The incident highlights the growing threat of ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations, which can have serious consequences for patient care and safety.

The attack on UMMC is the latest in a series of high-profile ransomware incidents affecting healthcare providers in the United States.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing, and officials have not disclosed any information about the attackers or their demands.

However, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and incident response planning in the healthcare sector.