BREAKING: Ascension Wisconsin responds to cybersecurity event, suspending clinical operations

RACINE, Wis. — Ascension Wisconsin reported a cybersecurity incident on Wednesday, May 8, that resulted in a significant disruption to clinical operations.

A statement from Ascension Wisconsin said the health care provider detected “anomalous activity” on some of its technology network systems, which it believes is a cybersecurity event. .

The organization immediately responded by launching an investigation and initiating remediation efforts. However, access to some systems was interrupted while the process continued. Ascension Wisconsin partnered with Mandiant, a well-known cybersecurity company, to assist with investigation and recovery efforts.

“Our care teams are trained to prepare for this type of disruption and ensure that the delivery of patient care continues to be safe and the impact possible.” said Mo Moorman, Ascension Wisconsin's senior director of external relations. “We have begun steps to minimize this as much as possible.”

Ascension Wisconsin responds to cybersecurity event

Despite these measures, clinical operations have been significantly disrupted and the full impact and duration of the disruption is still being assessed.

In light of this incident, Ascension has recommended that its business partners temporarily suspend connectivity to the Ascension environment to prevent further issues. Healthcare providers also notify appropriate authorities and cooperate closely with investigations of violations.

Patients and stakeholders are understandably concerned about the potential for sensitive information to be compromised. Ascension Wisconsin assured the public that if it is determined that sensitive information has been affected, those affected will be notified and supported in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal guidelines.

The incident raises concerns about the vulnerability of healthcare systems to increasingly sophisticated and frequent cyberattacks. Experts emphasize the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and continuous monitoring to mitigate these risks.

Ascension Wisconsin Information Page

Ascension Wisconsin is committed to providing updates as the situation evolves and has created a dedicated page for updates on its website.

For more information, please visit the Ascension updates page.