Mississippi Medical Center responds to cyberattack with ongoing recovery efforts

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is actively responding to a cyberattack that disrupted its systems on Thursday. Medical center teams are working around the clock to assess and contain the breach, with federal authorities, including specialized FBI teams, providing assistance onsite, according to UMMC officials.

UMMC has engaged three national vendors with expertise in cyber forensics, recovery, and security to aid in the investigation and recovery efforts. The extent of the infiltration remains unclear, and it is uncertain how long it will take to restore normal operations, officials said.

During this period, phone and email systems are still unreliable or down. Despite the disruptions, the hospital and emergency departments continue to provide urgent care. UMMC has notified other hospitals that it can now receive transfers of patients requiring higher-level care. The phone number for Mississippi MED-COM regarding patient transfers is 601-362-4264, officials said.

Ambulance services have been notified that the hospital is no longer on diversion. UMMC is working on a solution for patients to contact the hospital for routine medical and medication needs, with plans to share details publicly once available. The hospital is also reaching out to patients receiving time-sensitive treatments, such as chemotherapy, to schedule appointments.

UMMC officials apologized for the inconvenience caused by the cyberattack and expressed hope that they will soon return to full operational capacity to serve Mississippi’s healthcare needs.

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