Scripps Health Responds to Cyberattack

Scripps Health is in the aftermath of a cyberattack that has disrupted patient portals and forced employees to use offline chart systems. Some patients' appointments have been rescheduled.

The health care system confirmed on Sunday that their servers had been attacked overnight, NBC San Diego reported earlier this week, though officials did not say how the incident occurred or which systems had been affected. When asked whether the attack involved ransomware on Monday, a Scripps spokesperson declined to comment.

Reports indicate the attack affected Scripps email servers. Representatives said on Sunday they suspended access to patient portals and other applications "related to our operations at our health care facilities."

A statement from the organization says facilities including hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care centers, Scripps HealthExpress locations, and other outpatient facilities are open.

Scripps Health certainly is not alone: Hospitals and healthcare organizations have been primary targets of cyberattacks over the past year as they navigated the challenges of operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Attacks against healthcare entities increased 45% late last year – double the amount on other industries in the same time frame.

Read more details here.