CommonSpirit Health suffers IT security incident
The health system says it has taken certain IT systems offline, which in some cases include electronic health record systems.
Photo: Andrew Brookes/Getty Images
CommonSpirit Health, the large 142-hospital system, has suffered what the health system called an "IT security incident."
The incident is impacting some of CommonSpirit's facilities and some patient appointments have been rescheduled, according to the health system.
"As a precautionary step we have taken certain IT systems offline, which in some of our divisions includes electronic health record systems and other systems," CommonSpirit said by statement on Monday. "Our facilities are following existing protocols for system outages and taking steps to minimize the disruption. We take our responsibility to ensure the privacy of our patients and IT security very seriously."
No breach for the security breach has been released.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives combined in 2019 to form CommonSpirit Health, the new nonprofit 21-state Catholic health system.
The hacking incident affected the local CHI Memorial hospital, according to The Chattanoogan.com in Tennessee. CHI officials said some patient procedures had to be rescheduled and some systems taken offline, the report said.
THE LARGER TREND
This April, CommonSpirit Health signed an agreement for Trinity Health to acquire all facilities and assets of MercyOne, a regional health system based in Iowa.
Eight hospitals were to rebrand under the Trinity Health banner. The acquisition was completed this past September.
Since 1998, MercyOne has operated under a joint operating agreement between not-for-profit Catholic healthcare organizations Trinity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, which is now CommonSpirit.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
