TYLER, Texas — The security incident last week that caused a network outage at UT Health East Texas has now been identified as a ransomware attack that impacted the system's parent company Ardent Health Services and its affiliated entities.
According to the statement from Ardent, the cybersecurity incident on Nov. 23 caused the Ardent technology team to proactively take its network offline, suspending all user access to its information technology applications, including corporate servers, Epic software, internet and clinical programs.
As a precaution on Wednesday, the UT Health East Texas emergency room was placed on divert status. In an update Monday, a spokesperson said that the hospital system is off divert status.
UT Health East Texas said on Facebook MyChart and On-Demand Video Visits are temporarily unavailable, and officials are working to get the systems back online soon.
Officials later determined that the incident was a ransomware attack. Ardent said this event has been reported to law enforcement and the company has hired third-party forensic and threat intelligence advisers.
Ardent said its officials cannot confirm the extent of any patient health or financial data that has been compromised.
"In addition to electronic protection procedures already in place, Ardent has also implemented additional information technology security protocols and is working with specialist cybersecurity partners to restore its information technology operations and capabilities as quickly as possible," Ardent's statement read.
While parts of the clinical and financial operations have been disrupted, Ardent said that patient care is continuing safely and effectively at hospitals, emergency rooms, and clinics, such as the UT Health East Texas system.
To be cautious, Ardent said facilities are rescheduling non-emergency and elective procedures and diverting some emergency room patients to other area hospitals until systems are back online.
The investigation and efforts to restore access to electronic medical records and other clinical systems is ongoing.
"Ardent is still determining the full impact of this event and it is too soon to know how long this will take or what data may be involved in this incident," the statement read.