KAWARTHA LAKES-Ross Memorial Hospital remains in Code Grey for the eighth day as IT experts work to get clinical systems back up and running.
The hospital says on February 5, 2023, RMH’s Information Technology team were informed that staff were having difficulties accessing the “virtual environment”.
Our IT team immediately investigated these issues and identified unusual activity in the environment. As a result of the cybersecurity nature of the Incident, RMH declared an IT Code Grey.” said officials. “The hospital has been managing our established protocols to maintain continued delivery of our critical hospital services throughout this process. We continue to engage third-party cybersecurity experts to help restore clinical operations, including essential clinical systems and Epic, as quickly as possible. These systems are coming back online in priority sequence.”
Patients in the Emergency Department notified Kawartha 411 on February 7th, calling the situation “crazy”. Patients say staff aren’t able to access the systems needed for treatment and they say even the parking machines aren’t working properly. Read more here: https://www.kawartha411.ca/2023/02/07/suspected-ransomware-attack-disables-some-systems-at-ross-memorial-hospital/
Officials say they are working closely with local, regional, and provincial partners to coordinate a response and make sure that the health information network is secure, which is a top priority.
“We want to extend our sincere thanks to all the members of the RMH family who have been working so hard to address and respond to this critical issue.”
Patients with less urgent conditions are encouraged to consider alternate options for care such as their primary health care provider, pharmacist, after-hours clinic, virtual care, or by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0007. After-hours clinics can often treat non-urgent and minor illnesses and ailments, such as earaches, sore throats or prescription refills.
Some patients from RMH are being redirected to PRHC, meaning patient volumes at PRHC may be higher than normal according to officials at PRHC.
