On May 8, 2024, Ascension Health faced a ransomware attack affecting 140 hospitals across the U.S., severely disrupting healthcare operations.

Critical systems including electronic health records, patient communications, and phone services were compromised, leading to delays in patient care.

Emergency cases were diverted and elective surgeries cancelled, raising serious concerns about patient safety amid a shift to paper-based systems.

The extent of the disruption in Chicago remains uncertain, but hospitals in other states have reported significant operational challenges.

Ascension Health staff are experiencing frustration due to poor communication from management regarding the cyber-attack.

Ascension Health has enlisted a third-party cybersecurity expert to investigate and is striving to limit the impact on patient services.

The incident underscores the increasing cyber threats facing the healthcare industry and the potential risks to critical infrastructure.