Ascension confirmed Thursday night it experienced a cybersecurity incident and said multiple systems, including its electronic health record, MyChart and systems used to order tests, procedures and medications, weren't functioning.
The 140-hospital health system on Wednesday said there had been unusual activity on its technology network that it believed was related to a cybersecurity event. In its Thursday night update, Ascension also said it had canceled some elective procedures, tests and appointments and several hospitals were diverting emergency cases to other facilities. Some phone systems also were down.
Related: Ascension reports cybersecurity incident, possible data breach
Ascension said it did not have a timeline for the systems' restoration and the protocols in place to address the disruptions will likely be in place for some time. It encouraged patients to bring notes on their symptoms and lists of medications and prescription numbers to appointments, so employees can call orders in to pharmacies.
"We are working around the clock with internal and external advisors to investigate, contain and restore our systems following a thorough validation and screening process," Ascension said in a news release.
St. Louis-based Ascension has urged business partners to temporarily disconnect from its systems as a precaution.
The nonprofit health system, which operates in 19 states and Washington, D.C., has not confirmed whether sensitive information was compromised.
