Tri-City Medical Center continues to grapple with the repercussions of a cyberattack that commenced on Thursday morning, extending its impact for over 24 hours. In an update issued on Friday afternoon, the hospital management revealed that all elective medical procedures have been temporarily halted as efforts are underway to restore their systems to full functionality. The decision to take information systems offline was made in response to the detection of suspicious network activity.
Although the public hospital on state Route 78 is still receiving patients at its emergency department, ambulance deliveries are being diverted to alternative hospitals through the county emergency medical system.
Tri-City, in its Friday statement, disclosed collaboration with cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement to investigate the cyberattack. However, the hospital has not confirmed whether the cybercriminals responsible for infiltrating their data systems have demanded a ransom, potentially implicating patient privacy.
The hospital's information systems were taken offline promptly upon the detection of suspicious activity on Thursday morning. The delay in prroviding more detailed information about the attack aligns with a common post-cyberattack communication strategy, as explained by Chris Van Gorder, CEO of Scripps Health. Drawing from Scripps Health's experience with a ransomware attack in 2021, Van Gorder emphasized that legal advice often guides organizations to disclose limited details in the aftermath of such incidents.
Tri-City has not clarified whether access to its electronic medical records system, crucial for patient treatment, remains intact. Similar cyberattacks on other hospitals have resulted in a loss of records access, necessitating a return to paper record-keeping by frontline caregivers.
Tri-City emphasized its commitment to prioritizing the health and wellness of patients despite the ongoing challenges. Meanwhile, Chris Van Gorder underscored the complexity of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector, describing it as a war against international terrorists. He argued that even with significant resources, government entities are not immune to successful cyberattacks.
In the wake of the cyberattack, emergency department traffic at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas has reportedly increased. However, it remains unclear whether Palomar Health, operating two inland North County hospitals, has experienced notable spikes in patient traffic.