Kettering Health Struggles to Recover Weeks After Major Ransomware Attack
Ongoing Disruptions at Ohio Healthcare Network
Kettering Health, a prominent Ohio-based healthcare network operating dozens of medical facilities, continues facing operational challenges two weeks after a devastating ransomware attack caused “a system-wide technology outage.”
Current System Status
In a June 2nd update, Kettering reported restoring “core components” of its Epic electronic health record system. This partial restoration enables:
- Electronic health record updates
- Care team communication
- Improved patient care coordination
Patient Impacts and Challenges
Multiple sources report significant ongoing disruptions:
- Emergency Services: Ambulances reportedly avoiding some Kettering facilities due to processing delays
- Medication Access: Patients struggling with prescription refills
- Appointment Cancellations: Critical procedures including MRIs, chemotherapy, and pre-surgical tests affected
- Communication Breakdowns: Phone systems remain unreliable at many locations
“Everything is being done by hand — pen and paper,” one patient told TechCrunch. Reddit users in Dayton, Ohio reported medication access issues so severe they risk withdrawal seizures.
Attack Details and Response
John Weimer, Kettering’s SVP of Emergency Operations, confirmed to WLWT Cincinnati that:
- The incident was a ransomware attack
- The organization did not pay any ransom
- IT systems were immediately isolated when the breach was detected
The hackers, reportedly from the Interlock group, left a note stating: “Your network was compromised, and we have secured your most vital files” (CNN).
Growing Healthcare Cybersecurity Crisis
This attack follows a disturbing trend of healthcare cyberattacks:
- 2024’s Change Healthcare Breach: Affected 190 million Americans (TechCrunch)
- Ascension Attack: Compromised 5.6 million patient records (TechCrunch)
The HIPAA Journal called 2024 “an annus horribilis for healthcare data breaches.”
Kettering Health spokesperson Claire Myree acknowledged but did not respond to TechCrunch’s inquiries about potential data exfiltration.
For secure tips about this incident or other ransomware attacks, contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai via Signal (+1 917 257 1382), Telegram/Keybase @lorenzofb, or email.
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