Ransomware Attack Disrupts Patient Care at Campbell County Hospital

During the attack, all computer systems were impacted, affecting labs, exams, new inpatient admissions and phone systems.
Published: September 23, 2019

Campbell County Health experienced a ransomware attack last week that disrupted many of its services and made patient care difficult.

During the attack, all 1,500 of the Wyoming hospital’s computers were affected, reports Gillette News-Record.

Steve Crichton, VP of plant and facilities, said the hospital is not accepting any emergency medical service transports into the emergency room and is sending patients to other locations.

The attack affected the hospital’s email server, phone systems, and the ability to perform labs, respiratory therapy, radiology exams and surgeries.

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As of Sunday, officials from CCH released a press release saying there was no evidence that patient data was accessed or misused.

CCH does not have an estimate of when the systems will be back up, but the emergency department and walk-in clinic are still operational. The hospital will see patients, stabilize them and transfer them if necessary.

“Our staff’s response and the calmness that exists in this building when such an awful incident is occurring should be noted,” said CCH board chairman, Dr. Ian Swift. “I’m very impressed with our leadership, I’m very impressed with the employees and just the response this organization [has] made.”

The hospital is working with the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the governor’s office and the FBI to figure out next steps to resolve the issue.

“Most of the systems we depend on for our patient care are not able to be seen by anyone. We have all computers in the hospital shut off at this point,” Crichton said.

The Campbell County Commissioners approved a resolution Friday afternoon declaring a disaster to initiate the process of an 1135 waiver, which allows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid and other public health care requirements in certain emergencies.

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