A threat to our patients

Hello team members,

Recently, an alarming number of hospitals and health care systems have fallen victim to a type of computer virus called “ransomware.” Ransomware is a type of malicious software that restricts access to a computer system in some way and demands that the user pay a ransom to remove the restriction. Ransomware has shut down major health care systems and small hospitals all over the country, cutting off access to patient records, diagnostic images, email and everything hospitals depend on to treat patients. And it can start with one click.

Hackers use several methods to spread ransomware. The most common way is to send an email with an infected attachment or link, however they have also called hospitals posing as Microsoft representatives asking for remote access to a computer. Ransomware can also live on a website, inviting visitors to click on a link that will spread a virus to the computer.

A multidisciplinary team lead by Beverly Jordan, our vice president and chief information and transformation officer, is implementing a number of plans to protect us from a ransomware attack. They are also working to ensure we can continue to treat patients when – not if – we are attacked. However, it will take more than that to protect us.

You play a key role in protecting us, as well. If you receive an email from someone you don’t know, don’t respond to it, and definitely do not click on any link or attachment within the email. Send it to virusinfo@bmhcc.org. If you get a call from someone requesting remote access to your computer, hang up. No one outside of Baptist needs remote access to our computers.
And if you notice anything unusual on a computer, notify our information technology team’s Help Desk immediately, using the phone number you would normally call about computer issues. The faster IT is aware of a potential attack, the easier it is to limit the damage ransomware can do.

During the past few months, a number of you have received emails that appear to be from fellow team members – including me – but that include unusual requests, like transferring money or running an errand. If you receive one of these emails, don’t respond to it. Open a new email and send it to the team member to find out if the other email is legitimate. If it is not, forward the suspicious email to virusinfo@bmhcc.org.

This is an issue that will affect all of us, and it will take all of us to fight it. You will see and hear much more about this because it’s important that we remain alert and vigilant.

Do you have any questions and/or comments for me? Feel free to email me, tweet me @jason_m_little, or find me on LinkedIn. Take care, and stay aware.