Health system in South Carolina, Georgia closes offices after malware affects networks
AnMed Health, a multi-state healthcare system in South Carolina and Georgia, has been forced to temporarily close numerous facilities due to a malware attack. The system is working to restore operations and ensure patient care continues smoothly, highlighting a concerning trend of cyberattacks impacting healthcare services.
AnMed Health, a non-profit healthcare system serving both South Carolina and Georgia, is currently grappling with a significant cybersecurity disruption. The system announced on Sunday that it was experiencing a malware attack, leading to the temporary closure of dozens of facilities and departments. This disruption began with a phone and internet outage across all of the organization’s facilities.
As of Monday, AnMed Health released a detailed list of the impacted facilities, including urgent care centers remaining open, while imaging, OBGYN, and primary care clinics, as well as medical group offices, were closed. The organization is collaborating with emergency medical services, regional hospitals, and public safety partners to ensure patients receive appropriate care.
The incident follows a pattern of increasing cyberattacks targeting the healthcare industry. Recent reports, including one from IBM, indicate that healthcare data breaches are consistently among the most expensive, with an average cost of $7.4 million per incident and a significantly long detection and resolution time – over 5 weeks. The growing number of attacks underscores the vulnerability of the sector and the potential for serious consequences for patient care.