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đź’» Ascension hit with ransomware
Hospital pricing differences, ER wait times, Kaiser cuts Seattle expansion, Q1 hospital performance, and more!
Pulse Points
May 16, 2024
In this edition:
✂️ Kaiser cuts plans for Seattle facility
đź’» Ascension hit with ransomware
đźš‘ ER docs say boarding is at its worst
đź’˛ Hospitals charged private insurers 250% more
đź’µ Hospitals had a good Q1
And more!
Ascension hit with ransomware
The ransomware attack that began on May 8, has medical providers reverting to pen and paper, leading to longer wait times at the ER and much more. The system announced in a broadly worded press release that they “detected unusual activity in [their] network systems.”
The cyberattack has affected 140 hospitals and dozens of senior living facilities in 19 states, affecting everything from ordering tests to reading labs and scans.
As of Thursday, Ascension does not have a timeline for getting systems back online. Cybersecurity investigators are still trying to determine if the hackers stole any patient data.
Kaiser cuts plans for Seattle expansion
Kaiser has cut plans to expand and build a $500 M presence in the Yesler Terrace neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Instead of the development they plan to sell the plot of land.
The plans were originally introduced in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19
"The sale will not result in any changes to patient care or daily operations for Kaiser Permanente, and we will continue to serve our members at our Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center and at locations across the state”