In May, a cyberattack targeting Ascension Via Christi hospitals, including the Manhattan location, affected approximately 5.6 million individuals, the company reported to federal regulators. Ascension is collaborating with third-party experts to investigate the breach, which may have exposed medical, payment, insurance, government, or other personal data. Notifications will be sent to impacted patients within 2-3 weeks, offering free credit monitoring and identity protection services.

Although no evidence suggests that electronic health records were accessed, the attack disrupted various systems, including electronic health records, patient apps, phone systems, and tools for ordering medical tests and procedures. The breach, which began on February 29, went undetected until May when “unusual activity” was identified in Ascension’s network.

Senior living residents and employees were also affected by the incident. Despite the challenges, Ascension facilities remained operational, with care teams resorting to manual, paper-based systems until digital systems were restored.

Bob Copple, president of Ascension Via Christi Manhattan, highlighted that his location experienced less severe issues than others due to robust safeguards and ongoing improvements. He commended the hospital’s smooth management of the situation, emphasizing that patient care continued uninterrupted during the ransomware attack.