A cybersecurity issue forces a major New Mexico hospital to divert patients and close clinics - 巴士的報
A cybersecurity issue forced the University of New Mexico Health System to divert patients and close clinics on Monday, leaving the state without a Level 1 trauma center.
The University of New Mexico Health System raced to resolve a cybersecurity issue on Monday that forced it to send ambulances to other hospitals and cancel appointments at its more than 30 clinics. The network operates the state's only Level 1 trauma center, which receives about 100,000 emergency room visits annually.
UNM Health System officials told people not to show up at its main hospital in Albuquerque while they worked to resolve the issue, the extent and nature of which remained unclear. Other major healthcare providers in New Mexico, including Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Lovelace Health System, coordinated with UNM to take additional patients.
Cybersecurity Breach Details
Multiple UNM Health System employees reported hearing messages on their computers claiming that student, employee data and patient information had been stolen. The health system later announced that hospitals and clinics would resume operations in phases later in the day.
Impact on Patients
At the main entrance to the Albuquerque hospital, employees blocked the waiting room and informed patients that appointments might be canceled. At a medical center in the suburb of Rio Rancho, security guards told arriving patients to reschedule their appointments.
UNM's Health Sciences Center, the state's largest academic medical center, canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday. Hospital and medical group employees were expected to return to work on Tuesday as operations gradually resumed.
Investigation Underway
A spokesperson for the health system declined to comment, stating that the incident remains an active law enforcement investigation. FBI spokesperson Margot Cravens confirmed the agency was "assisting our partner" but provided no further details.
The Associated Press attempted to reach the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and the Albuquerque Police Department for comment but received no response. The incident comes amid growing national concern about cybersecurity vulnerabilities in essential services, particularly healthcare systems.
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