While the IT infrastructure at MedStar Health in the Washington-Baltimore area remains crippled by a possible ransomware attack Monday, patient records were not compromised, according to the health system’s lead IT vendor. Meawhile, MedStar has slowly begun recovering from the incident.
Cerner, which provides electronic health records across MedStar’s 10 hospitals and more than 250 outpatient facilities, said that its technology came through unscathed.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
“While all systems were taken offline as a precaution, Cerner solutions — including the MedConnect EHR system — were not penetrated,” a Cerner spokeswoman said in an e-mail. “The MedConnect system is now online at limited facilities, and we continue to work closely with our client as the broader IT framework is brought back online.”
For its part, other than a brief statement to local media Monday acknowledging a breach, MedStar has not said anything about the hack or the recovery. This is the health system’s most recent tweet:
Networks temporarily shut down to prevent virus spread. We have no evidence of compromised information. All facilities remain open.
— MedStar Health (@MedStarHealth) March 28, 2016
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
While facilities may remain open, they seem to be at limited capacity. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that some patients are being “turned away” or told not to come in for appointments.
