Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) has suffered a ransomware attack. It has led to the shutdown of its IT systems and the suspension of non-emergency procedures. All of TMH’s network systems went offline. The healthcare provider has stated that the attack only impacted some of them. In response to the attack, other hospitals did the treatment of patients requiring emergency medical services (EMS).TMH is only accepting Level 1 traumas from its immediate service area.
The attack was detected early by TMH’s IT department, who promptly shut down the IT systems. It was to limit the impact of the breach. The healthcare provider is now reviewing each of its IT systems, prioritizing them, and bringing them back online one-by-one. However, there is currently no timeline for the recovery process, as the situation is still emerging. TMH has issued a statement apologizing for any inconvenience or delays caused by the attack. Also assured patients that their safety remains the top priority.
What TMH has to say about ransomware attack?
TMH has reported the incident to law enforcement and is now working with them as part of an ongoing investigation. The healthcare provider serves a 21-county region in North Florida and South Georgia through acute care and psychiatric hospitals, multiple specialty care centers, and 38 affiliated physician practices.
The attack is believed to be a ransomware attack, according to local media reports that cite sources with knowledge of the situation. Ransomware attacks targeting healthcare organizations have been a growing concern for the federal government in recent years. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have all issued warnings about various ransomware operations actively targeting the Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) sector in the U.S.
This is the second suspected ransomware attack involving U.S. hospitals in 2023, with last year seeing 25 attacks against health systems operating 290 hospitals. In another recent attack, Atlantic General Hospital in Maryland suffered a ransomware attack over the weekend.
In conclusion, the attack on Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for healthcare organizations. With ransomware attacks on the rise, healthcare providers need to take proactive measures to prevent and respond to such incidents.
