Those attacks touched 141 U.S. hospitals with data being stolen in 32 of 46 of the ransomware events, according to the Jan. 2 report. Of note was the November hack of Ardent Health Services, a 30-hospital system based in Nashville, Tenn., which caused ambulances to be diverted across multiple states.
“Delayed requisitions and tests, inaccessible electronic health records, and mistakes related to manual record keeping can also negatively impact medical outcomes,” the report noted. “Patients may die or be left with permanent disabilities that could have been avoided with speedier treatment.”
The report’s authors called for governments to ban ransom payments. Globally, organizations paid ransomware hackers $449 million in the first half of 2023 alone, the majority of it believed to be from the U.S.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.