Ascension Restores Electronic Health Records after Ransomware Attack: Recovery and Priorities in Healthcare Cybersecurity

Ascension, a national health care system, announced that electronic health records (EHRs) would be restored in their facilities by the end of next week. The 770-bed hospital on 86th has faced challenges due to a ransomware attack that left EHRs unavailable for patient care. Staff and patients have been affected by the shift to using paper notes and records, which led to delays in care, increased errors, and added stress.

The health system’s spokesperson stated that restoring EHR access was a top priority in their recovery process. Positive developments were reported as EHR access was successfully restored in the Florida, Alabama, and Austin markets. However, the investigation into the cyber crime is still ongoing. Despite this setback, Ascension has reopened its retail pharmacy for further inquiries or information. Binghui Huang can be contacted at 317-385-1595 or via email at Bhuang@gannett.com for more information.