Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago faced a significant cyber crisis, prompting the institution to take its IT systems offline to prevent the spread of the attack. The hospital, a vital pediatric care facility, with 360 beds and over 4,000 medical staff, announced the cybersecurity incident on its website and social media platforms. The disruption impacted internet services, email, phone systems, and access to the MyChat platform, prompting delays in scheduled procedures, unavailability of test results, and a shift to paper prescriptions. Despite the attack, the hospital emphasized its commitment to providing safe, quality care with minimal disruptions, prioritizing emergency situations.
The cyber incident at Lurie Children’s Hospital triggered an active response involving collaboration with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts. While specific details about the nature of the attack were not disclosed, the hospital assured the public of ongoing patient care with necessary precautions in place. Notably, the disruption follows a pattern of cyber threats targeting healthcare organizations, with recent incidents like the Capital Health and Saint Anthony Hospital attacks attributed to the Lockbit ransomware operation. Despite ransomware guidelines discouraging attacks on healthcare, some threat actors continue to target medical institutions, highlighting the persistent challenges in safeguarding critical infrastructure.
The impact of the cyberattack extended beyond the digital realm, affecting various hospital services and procedures. Scheduled medical procedures were delayed, essential test results became inaccessible, and prescriptions shifted to manual processes. Lurie Children’s Hospital adapted to prioritize emergency cases through a first-come, first-served approach. While no ransomware group claimed responsibility at the time of the report, the incident underscored the vulnerability of healthcare institutions to cyber threats and the potential disruptions to essential services, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector.
Reference:
- Lurie Children’s outage: Hospital investigating cyber security matter as network down for 2nd day
- Cybersecurity Matter
