Cyberattack Impacting Memorial Health System’s Patient Services

Memorial Health System suffered a cyberattack which is causing cancellations of services for patients and emergency room diversions.  

Memorial Health System announced that it suffered “an information technology security incident in the early morning hours this morning, August 15, 2021,” according to a statement published on its website. “As a result, we suspended user access to information technology applications related to our operations.” 

The healthcare system, which has locations in Ohio and West Virginia, said it has enacted protocols and “is working diligently with security partners to restore information operations as quickly as possible. Federal law enforcement has also been notified.” 

The cyberattack is causing disruptions to both the clinical and financial operations of the hospital system, according to the statement.  

"Maintaining the safety and security of our patients and their care is our top priority and we are doing everything possible to minimize disruption,” Memorial Health System president and CEO Scott Cantley states in the notice. “Staff at our hospitals- Marietta Memorial, Selby, and Sistersville General Hospital - are working with paper charts while systems are restored, and data recovered." 

Cantley said all urgent surgical cases for Monday, August 16, were cancelled and patients were notified of the changes. 

Memorial Health canceled all radiology exams, but primary care appointments were still being held.  

“If patients have an appointment with a surgeon or specialist on Monday, we suggest they call ahead,” the statement notes. “For the most efficient use of a patient’s visit, we want to ensure we have historical patient information. If for any reason we feel their visit would best be rescheduled, we will reach out to patients directly.” 

Cantley states that the cyberattack did not involve employee or patient personal or financial information.  

"We are continuing to work with IT security experts to methodically investigate to precisely understand what happened and are taking the appropriate actions to resolve any and all issues," he states in the notice.  

The not-for-profit health system, which has three hospital locations, put its emergency departments on diversion due to the IT systems failures, the notice states.  

“We will continue to accept: STEMI, STROKE and TRAUMA patients at Marietta Memorial Hospital. Belpre and Selby are on diversion for all patients due to radiology availability,” the notice states. “It is in the best interest of all other patients to be taken to the nearest accepting facility.” 

“If all area hospitals on are diversion, patients will be transported to the emergency department closest to where the emergency occurred,” it states. “This diversion will be ongoing until IT systems are restored.”