Every hospital I've worked at had processes in place for computer downtime, regardless the reason. Also, they had security in place to prevent hacking, they know cyber attacks are a reality as hospitals have long been targets. Problem is, the hackers are one step ahead devising new ways to gain entry into the secured systems.

The real risk in being hacked is to the patients when suddenly their medical/surgical histories are unavailable to health care providers. Many people are terrible historians when it comes to their own medical care. It's not bc these people are stupid, they simply forget. This leaves providers working in the dark.

Any care provided during downtime has to be manually entered when the system comes back up. I can only imagine how much of that information is lost in the transfer from paper to computer. The next provider now is working with an incomplete history.

My advice to every patient: put your pen to paper, write down your allergies to meds, current meds w dose and how often it's taken, significant medical and surgical history, list your physicians and emergency contact and carry it in your wallet.

Two reasons: 1. They are a competitor and 2. The Villages News is anti-anything related to the villages.

This is not a rumor. Absolutely true
 

In the hospital now and this is NOT a rumor. Doctors and nurses talking about it freely. Staff seem extremely frustrated and will admit it is putting patients at risk. I hear it’s on the news but haven’t confirmed that but seeing it first hand.

gotta wonder if they still do the "chart" at the foot of the bed ???

The hospital is a separate entity from The Village Health.

The hospital is not related in business to The Village Health facilities scattered about our Town.

The building of the hospital is owned by the developer and rented to the current hospital business that runs it. Which is University of Florida.

The Village Health buildings are owned by the developer and run by the developer.

People that "think" they know everything, but really don't should not always add their two cents. They try to project some sort of authoritative security, when really they know nothing themselves....don't you hate that?

Wrong. It's on the front page of the Daily Sun.

Reports of computer systems being hacked and shut down at both our regional hospitals is NOT A RUMOR!

I can attest to the fact that The Villages Regional Hospital is noticeably quiet, presumably because of the effect of the ransomware attack on its computer systems.

We live across the street from the hospital and had not heard a siren or helicopter in almost a week. And the TVRH parking lots have noticeable numbers of empty spaces compared to normal.

Hairdressers always know.

ABC Nightly News just reported on The Villages Hospital Ransomware Case. FBI investigating.

Actually on ABC national news as verified.

Was on the national news so not a rumor.

UF/other hosptial or facilietes under UF DO NOT use the same PMR operating program ..
 

UF/other hospital or facilities under UF DO NOT use the same PMR operating program .. get the facts before you spread ..

This is happening more and more. Private industry according to the govern. No govern protection. Something is going on.

So? I dont work there and I doubt you do. Who cares? Unless youre insinuating that the staff is so illiterate they do not know how to use a pen or pencil.

Have to say thank you to the entire staff - they have been through a lot with Covid and now this.

:bigbow:

Sometimes we have to admit we are wrong.

So true; thank you Graciegirl. Hopefully people will take note and shut up. I volunteer at UFH TV. They’ve been shut down since Monday and are doing miraculously well the good old fashion way with pen and paper. Working hard, staying cool, and getting their jobs done.

Hospital Cyber Attack
 

I talked to a person with inside information that 3 hospitals had had a cyber attack and all their computers were down. Some things were being hand-delivered to other doctor's offices.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Boffin, I’m sure that someone is trying to stop this but if the govt. is going to bow down to their demands & pay them off, why would this person or persons quit hacking peoples or companies computers. People voted for this administration to keep things like this from happening, well they got what they wanted. Just like they did to the pipeline & our man that running the govt. said, “Man I’m in charge now”. You can’t buy these hackers off & expect it to stop.

Gracie, don't waste your breath....that admittance or apology will not happen. Seems like some people here blurt out "something they heard", it spreads like wildfire, it's obviously wrong...lol and they keep supporting it. It cracks me up. How can someone be so old,have so much life experience yet not realize how stupid they look. 🤷*♀️

Have a great day.

First this is purely political and not allowed.

In addition you are wrong.....government does not pay....the company hijacked is paying. And this has been going on for some time....YEARS.

Nobody wants to hear THIS or anykind of computer hijacking (elections, disinformation, etc) for whatever reason. Hearngs held and mocked in the past

Yepper!!

Cyber attack is true.

Ransomware attack is an unconfirmed rumor.

:ho:

Well thought and well said. I freely admit my errors and am willing to wear sackcloth and ashes. You, like most MEN, rarely speak incorrectly. ;)

Several weeks before the Hospitals were hit the number you call to get an appointment to see a doctor was down for almost an entire day. The staff was in shock. They did their best to keep things rolling. Maybe it was just a warmup before they went after the hospital's system.

Damn shame. They have certainly helped a whole lot of people in the Hospital even with their shortcomings. They certainly have upset a whole lot of people also. Draw your own conclusion.

The Villages Hospital cippled by Ransomware attack ...
 

I was at the ER Wed night, ER packed, all 47 ER beds full, 42 in the hallways. Very scary stuff.

Was at a Villages' hospital building yesterday and the woman taking my Mom's vitals had said that it went down Monday night and for them anyway it was only a few hours. She had to do things by hand for a few hours rather than using the computer.

They were using the computers yesterday afternoon.

This might have affected buildings differently. We were down by Brownwood at The Villages Health Specialty Care at the Center for Advanced Healthcare.

And with these matters you often get conflicting stories.

The hospital doesn't get much good press, but my husband was taken to the emergency room on Wed during the computers being taken down. It was a little slow because everything was being done on paper. He was admitted and released on Friday. The doctors and nurses were wonderful. They had to go back to old school and they never lost their cool. They don't get enough praise and under these trying circumstances they do deserve praise, or at least from us. Thanks for your caring service.

That's good, let's hope hackers stay away from doctor's offices and Villages Health. These are not the same company as TVRH, LRMC and Brownwood ER.

Nice post.

I used to visit that building before it became a hospital (had workout facilities, etc)......remember they announce it was coming and was there for the dedication.

Thankfully, I have never had to actually "use" the facilities, but I know many who worked or still work there, and their dedication to healing.

With all the negative pub that comes at it, hoping the bad publicity goes away.......keep in mind...your post is unique.....most only post on here to complain.

Again, I thank you for your positive post

Hacking networks in hospitals and holding them for ransom is becoming more prevalent as it’s an easy way to make quick money. Hospitals are particularly vulnerable as they hold your entire identity to include your DOB, SSN, blood type, etc. How profitable is it to sell your identity on the dark web?

During the height of Covid, schools were often targeted. It didn’t make front page news, but it was happening. My neighbor, a school Principal, said they had to pay out $1M at his school; a neighboring school had been hit twice.

As a country, we have to find solutions quickly to protect these networks. Any business that uses a network should be taking every precaution to protect them.

Solutions are available.
It's a cat & mouse game.

As a very basic, baseline............organizations need to segregate systems and platforms.
Internet connected applications should never be touching critical internal applications.

Not surprised by anything re IT inThe Villages.

Last I knew The Villages realty company was still using Windows 7 on all of their PCs. They don’t even put out security patches anymore on this out of date version.

But think of the money they saved :-) ;-)

IMO until, the time fits the crime it will continue. IMO any hacker hacking hospital and caught minimum sentence should be 50 years to life? Why you say so harsh. People could die. Caught? key word, seems the can never catch hacker on this level, but they know every banking transactions and health issues I have. Also IMO Bitcoin, dogcoin, any cyber money should be against law if can’t track transaction. That’s why they want Bitcoin payments.