A ransomware attack is affecting hospitals around the country owned and operated by Prospect Medical Holdings, a 16-hospital system based in Culver City, Calif.
"We have experienced a ransomware attack that is Prospect-wide, and are currently evaluating the situation," Lori Bookbinder, a spokesperson for Springfield, Pa.-based Crozer Health, texted the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We will provide updates as appropriate."
Crozer Health's computers were down as a result of the incident, the newspaper reported.
The cyberattack has closed down emergency departments in Manchester, Conn., and Rockland, Conn., forcing the hospitals to divert patients, the Middletown Press reported.
Eastern Connecticut Health Network closed elective surgeries, urgent care, wound healing and several other specialties because of the incident. "All Prospect Medical Holdings facilities are experiencing IT complications impacting some of our ECHN locations," the hospital wrote on its website.
"It was a ransomware attack," ECHN COO Jillian Menzel told News 8. "We are unsure at this time of the extent of that attack. We have a Prospect team that is working on that. There’s a national command center that is working on that currently."
The FBI is investigating the event, which is also affecting Waterbury (Conn.) Health, the news outlet reported.
"Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. recently experienced a data security incident that has disrupted our operations," the health system texted Becker's. "Upon learning of this, we took our systems offline to protect them and launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity specialists. While our investigation continues, we are focused on addressing the pressing needs of our patients as we work diligently to return to normal operations as quickly as possible."