Fort Worth, Texas-based JPS Health Network remains in a “controlled network downtime” as of Aug. 10, more than a week after detecting suspicious activity in its technology environment.
The health system, which operates a 582-bed hospital and more than 25 community-based clinics for Tarrant County, said it took its network systems offline early on Aug. 3 to isolate and secure its environment. JPS has not disclosed whether the incident involves ransomware or unauthorized data access.
Clinical staff have shifted to paper-based intake forms and manual downtime procedures while continuing to treat patients, according to the health system. Some services, including pharmacy operations, are taking longer than usual, and patients whose appointments require adjustment are being contacted directly by their care teams. JPS also filed a “catastrophe notice” with the Texas Attorney General’s office, pausing its obligation to respond to public information requests during the outage.
“Restoring our technology environment safely is careful, methodical work that takes time,” the health system stated.
JPS said it expects to remain under downtime procedures for several more days and will continue posting updates as the situation develops.
JPS Health Network, the public safety-net system for Tarrant County, includes the region’s only psychiatric emergency center and longest-standing level 1 trauma center.
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