Several medical clinics in Barrie fell victim to a ransomware attack, affecting operations and prompting investigations. The Barrie and Community Family Health Team (BCFHT), which oversees these clinics, confirmed the incident and is collaborating with legal counsel and cybersecurity experts to contain and remediate the situation. While disruptions occurred, most clinic services remain operational, with efforts underway to restore phone services and safeguard patient data integrity.
Matt Orava, chair of the board of directors for BCFHT, stated that the majority of clinic services, including walk-in clinics, are operational despite the cyber incident. However, phone services are still being restored, and the investigation continues to determine the extent of the impact. BCFHT has reassured patients that their electronic medical records were housed separately and remain unaffected by the ransomware attack.
Barrie police and the RCMP have been notified, and investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, BCFHT is committed to providing updates on their webpage as the investigation progresses and is prepared to notify relevant parties if sensitive information is found to be compromised. The incident underscores the rising threat of ransomware attacks against businesses and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate such risks and protect patient confidentiality.
