Network Outage at Lurie Children’s Hospital Impacts Medical Operations
Chicago, IL – Lurie Children’s Hospital is facing a challenging situation as a network outage has disrupted essential services, including phones, email, internet connectivity, and even medical equipment that relies on computer systems. The hospital is currently investigating a “cyber security matter” that has significantly impacted its operations for the past two days.
Scope of the Issue
According to Lurie Children’s Hospital, the network outage has affected their main hospital, outpatient centers, and primary care offices. Some elective surgeries and procedures have been canceled, causing inconveniences for patients and their families.
Patients and community providers can seek assistance, guidance, and updates from the newly established Lurie Children’s call center. The call center offers support for non-urgent patient requests, care inquiries, information regarding scheduled patient appointments, and patient prescription refill requests. It operates from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon. The contact number for the call center is 1-800-543-7362.
Immediate Measures
Lurie Children’s Hospital is actively responding to the cyber security matter and has engaged leading experts in the field to investigate the incident. Collaboration with law enforcement agencies is also underway to address the situation effectively. As a part of their response, the hospital has taken their network systems offline to avert any further compromise.
In a statement, the hospital acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the outage and emphasized their commitment to resolve the matter in the most efficient and timely manner possible. Lurie Children’s is highly focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of their patients and working diligently to restore normalcy to their operations.
Cybersecurity Concerns in the Healthcare Sector
Experts in the field of cybersecurity are increasingly observing a rise in cyberattacks globally. Hospitals, once regarded as off-limits, have become prime targets due to their vulnerable security systems and the potential for cybercriminals to exploit the vast amount of valuable patient information they hold.
Pete Nicoletti of Check Point Software emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The hackers are using the information that they steal, and then they start using that information against patients because healthcare information is much more rich than just credit info.”
Maurice Dawson, director at the IIT Center for Cybersecurity and Education, drew attention to the evolving modus operandi of cyberattacks, which have adapted from conventional means of warfare to predominantly utilizing computers and keyboards, making it possible to launch attacks from anywhere in the world.
Effective Recovery and Ongoing Investigation
Recovering from a cyberattack can be a complex and time-consuming process. In the case of Lurie Children’s Hospital, they are diligently working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the source and nature of the cyber security matter. This involves ensuring system restoration, identifying the affected systems, and implementing robust protective measures to prevent future incidents.
It is worth noting that cybercriminals often exploit vulnerable email systems to gain unauthorized access. Pete Nicoletti warns, “Email is a sewage pipe, and unless you have quite a sophisticated email protection scheme, people are going to click on links.” Therefore, healthcare institutions must adopt stringent email protection protocols to mitigate potential risks.
Meanwhile, during the network outage, healthcare professionals at Lurie Children’s Hospital have resorted to traditional methods of recording patient information, relying on pen and paper, while experiencing delays in test results and prescriptions.
Cybersecurity experts stress the need for increased investments in healthcare security systems, both in terms of budget allocation and staffing, to effectively counter the ever-growing cyber threats targeting the healthcare sector.
Lurie Children’s Hospital is encouraged by the continuous support and understanding of its patient families and the greater community, and is tirelessly working to restore their network systems and resume normal operations as soon as possible.
