Mississippi Medical Center Shuts Down Clinics Following Ransomware Attack
Ransomware Attack Forces University of Mississippi Medical Center to Close Clinic Locations
A ransomware attack has forced the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to close all its clinic locations across the state. The incident, which was disclosed on Thursday, has taken down numerous IT systems and blocked access to electronic medical records.
Impact on Operations
UMMC, one of the largest employers in Mississippi, operates seven hospitals, 35 clinics, and over 200 telehealth sites statewide. The medical center is home to the state’s only children’s hospital, Level I trauma center, organ and bone marrow transplant program, and Telehealth Center of Excellence.
As a result of the attack, the medical center has cancelled outpatient and ambulatory surgeries, procedures, and imaging appointments. However, hospital services continue to operate using downtime procedures. The UMMC website remains offline as officials assess the impact of the attack.
Investigation and Response
The medical center 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.
“We are working with authorities to evaluate this situation and determine next steps,” a UMMC spokesperson said.
According to LouAnn Woodward, dean of the school of medicine at UMMC, the attackers have made contact and are working with authorities to determine the next course of action.
“We do not know how long this situation may last,” she said. “However, patients in our hospital and emergency department are being cared for, and clinical equipment and operations remain functional.”
Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs at UMMC, emphasized that patient care has not been impacted by the attack.
“All of our equipment works, and all of our patients are being taken care of safely,” he said.
Possible Motives and Next Steps
Although no ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it is likely that the attackers are attempting to pressure the medical center into paying an extortion demand. The incident may also involve data theft, which could be used as additional leverage.
The UMMC is working to assess the extent of the attack and conduct risk assessments before bringing its IT systems back online. In-person class schedules remain normal, and the medical center is using downtime procedures to maintain operations.
About Author
English