Excerpt from Nbc Sandiego Article, Published on Nov 09, 2023
Tri-City Healthcare, based in North County, San Diego, has temporarily ceased emergency operations following a ransomware attack that impacted its ability to admit patients, according to sources. The medical center, located in Oceanside, California, declared an Internal Disaster Diversion in coordination with San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services, preventing the acceptance of patients through the 911 system due to a critical disruption in medical services.
As a result, ambulances are being redirected to alternative hospitals, and scheduled operations and appointments are being rescheduled. While the facility is still attending to walk-in patients with emergencies, the timeline for resolving the issue remains uncertain.
Tri-City spokesperson Aaron Byzak confirmed a security breach was detected at 7 a.m. Thursday, triggering an investigation by internal and external internet technicians, as well as unidentified law enforcement experts. Though the nature of the breach was not explicitly disclosed, Byzak did not rule out the possibility of ransomware, a type of malicious software that denies access to computer files until a ransom is paid, as described by the FBI.
Tri-City Healthcare recently announced a partnership with UC San Diego Health, set to assume control of operations in March. This incident follows a series of cybersecurity challenges in the healthcare sector, emphasizing the critical need for robust digital defenses.
To delve deeper into this topic, please read the full article on Nbc Sandiego.
