Ransomware attack prompts multistate hospital chain to divert some emergency room patients elsewhere

By JONATHAN MATTISE and JAKE BLEIBERG
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A ransomware attack has prompted a health care chain with operations in six states to divert patients from at least some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals. Ardent Health Services said Monday it took its network offline after the Nov. 23 cyberattack and suspended user access to such tech applications as software used to document patient care. The company based near Nashville, Tennessee, said it cannot confirm the extent of any compromised patient health or financial information. Ardent owns and operates 30 hospitals and more than 200 care sites and has upwards of 1,400 aligned providers in Oklahoma, Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Idaho and Kansas.