State regulator watching Scripps Health ransomware attack closely
A view of Scripps Memorial Hospital in Hillcrest on Monday, May 3, 2021.
(Sandy Huffaker/For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Patient care continues at impacted hospitals as others take up the slack
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The California Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday, May 5, that it is monitoring the ransomware attack that has severely impacted Scripps Health facilities throughout San Diego County, but has thus far determined that emergency procedures under way since Saturday, May 1, have been adequate to ensure patients are safe.
The agency, which oversees all hospitals in the state, said that Scripps notified it of the “ransomware attacks” and that it is “actively monitoring” the situation.
Gina Babauta suffers from a rare neuromuscular disorder called Myasthenia Gravis. On Saturday, she admitted herself for her usual treatment at Scripps La Jolla. Everything seemed pretty normal up until around dinner time. She waited over 40 minutes on the phone to place an order with the cafeteria. “They answered and they said, ‘We can’t help you, we aren’t.
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The California Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that it is monitoring the ransomware attack that has severely impacted Scripps Health facilities throughout San Diego County, but has thus far determined that emergency procedures under way since Saturday have been adequate to ensure patients are safe.
The agency, which oversees all hospitals in the state, said that Scripps notified it of the “ransomware attacks” and that it is “actively monitoring” the situation.
“These hospitals are operational and caring for patients using appropriate emergency protocols in inpatient areas of the hospital,” a statement said.
CDPH further noted that it has the authority to “involuntarily suspend” the licenses of facilities if it determines that the care being provided is unsafe. However, the mere fact that a hospital is operating under “emergency protocols” does not, in and of itself, “warrant such action.”
Ransomware shutdown continues to be a problem for Scripps Health
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was affected by a May 1 cyberattack on Scripps Health’s computer network.
(Sam Hodgson / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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A ransomware attack continued to plague Scripps Health on May 3, creating confusion for patients and their families, especially those who were scheduled for appointments this week.
After fighting to regain control of its systems since the incident occurred May 1, Scripps said two days later that it still had not resolved the technical terrorism that put its patient records, scheduling and other critical systems offline, forcing medical personnel in hospitals and other facilities to revert to paper for the time being.