A System-Wide Cyberattack Set Providers Back Decades—and Shut Down Urgent Care Operations

When hackers launched a cyberattack against Prospect Medical Holdings in Los Angeles, the ripples were felt from coast to coast and ultimately forced cessation of urgent care operations temporarily. As reported by CBS News Moneywatch, even some who escaped a total shut down found themselves working without the benefits of computers for a time, as Crozer-Chester Medical System in Springfield, PA reverted to using hard copies for necessary documentation and records. That was expected to continue for at least a week while computer systems were offline. In addition to the urgent care and select department shutdowns, ambulances had to be diverted and elective surgeries were rescheduled. In addition to the obvious threats to patient care and confidential information, the shutdown could be expected to cost the company millions. According to the CBS report, the average data breach costs healthcare entities $11 million each, nearly double the cost to finance industry companies that experience cyberattacks. As with any crime, prevention is typically less costly than recovery on all fronts. To get a sense of your own level of preparation, read Education Is Key to Avoiding Increasingly Sophisticated Cyber Crime in the JUCM archive.