McLaren recovery from cyber-attack could last through month

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The cyber-attack that’s impacted McLaren Health Care since Aug. 7 will likely snarl computer systems through the end of August, officials said Friday.

Officials from the healthcare system said the “ criminal cyber security incident ” was ransomware. While it had been contained to certain systems, removing and accessing other systems remains problematic.

“The health system continues to work with cyber security experts to assess the extent of the impact of the current cyber attack and to determine whether any employee or patient information was compromised,” officials reported in a news release. “If the health system identifies that any Protected Health Information (PHI) or personal information was compromised, it will contact the affected individuals directly pursuant to state and federal reporting guidelines.”

The agency is bringing its regular activities back, officials reported. Officials provided this list of operations:

• Patients in need of an outpatient imaging study can temporarily schedule their appointments through their local McLaren imaging departments. A complete list of McLaren imaging locations can be found by clicking here .
• All emergency departments are open and accepting patients.
• Surgeries are proceeding as planned and any postponed elective surgeries have been or are currently being rescheduled.
• All radiation therapy units at Karmanos Cancer Institute facilities are operational.
• McLaren’s two Comprehensive Stroke Centers (McLaren Flint and McLaren Macomb) remain fully operational.
• Primary and specialty care offices are operational, and patients can make appointments.
• Patients should still show up for scheduled appointments unless you are contacted by a team member.

“Our experience has made clear that cyberattacks against our health care infrastructure are an industrywide problem, and it’s not hyperbole to call health care cybercrime a national security threat,” Phil Incarnati, President and CEO of McLaren Health Care, said in the news release. “I’m committed to working with my fellow providers, elected officials, law enforcement and cyber experts to find ways to hold these criminals accountable and prevent their entry into our systems.”

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