Hospital Pays Ransom Over Cyber Attack

Incident affected the protected health information of nearly 57,400 individuals

By Linda Lybert, Special to Healthcare Facilities Today


To pay or not to pay?

For healthcare IT managers facing a ransomware attack that threatens valuable patient and research data, that’s the question. The recent decision by a Massachusetts-based hospital to pay a ransom in exchange for promises by the attackers to destroy stolen data spotlights the difficult choice.

Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Massachusetts says that on Feb. 9, it identified a security incident that disrupted the operations of some of its IT systems, according to GovInfo Security.

“In exchange for a ransom payment, we obtained assurances that the information acquired would not be further distributed and that it had been destroyed," the organization said in a statement. The hospital reported the incident to law enforcement officials and regulators. The Department of Health and Human Services' HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool website says the incident affected the protected health information of nearly 57,400 individuals.

The hospital says its analysis of the incident determined the stolen files contained information belonging to Sturdy patients, as well as some patients of several local healthcare providers.



June 11, 2021


Topic Area: Information Technology


Recent Posts

Griffin Health Improves Patient Safety and Prevents HAIs with Electronic Hand Hygiene System

Case study: The system is used in all patient units, including the emergency department and ambulatory services.


Virginia Hospital Goes into Lockdown Following Admission of Shooting Victim

The hospital followed standard protocol by restricting access to ensure safety.


Ground Broken on Adena Fayette Medical Center

The 65,000-square-foot facility is slated to open in 2027.


University of Mississippi Medical Center Acquires Merit Health Madison

Merit Health Madison will now operate under the name UMMC Madison.


Preventing Slips and Falls in Hospitals

Flooring type, matting and cleaning programs all contribute to safer facilities.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.