All three Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based DCH Health System hospitals are temporarily closed to new patients due to a targeted Oct. 1 ransomware attack.
DCH Regional Medical Center, Northport Medical Center and Fayette Medical Center have been diverting patients to alternative hospitals. Staff at the health system have continued to treat patients that are currently in the hospitals. No plans have been made to transfer current patients.
Elective procedures and surgical cases Oct. 2 are being conducted as planned. The heath system is asking patients to call prior to any visit for tests and other procedures.
"We are confident that our downtime procedures will allow us to provide safe and effective care for those patients," said a statement on the DCH Health System website.
There is no timeline as to when DCH Regional Medical Center, Northport Medical Center and Fayette Medical Center expect to stop rerouting patients. The health system is working with federal authorities and its IT staff, vendors and consultants to restore its system.