Impacts continue for patients days after cyberattack at Kettering Health
A cyberattack has thrown Kettering Health into crisis, shutting down systems, canceling appointments, and cutting off communication with patients. “Oh, it’s very scary,” said Jamie Rodgers North. The timing of the cyberattack couldn’t have been worse for North.”I recently found out I have an 80 percent blockage in my left carotid artery, which means I’m very high risk of a stroke, possibly heart attack,” North said. Surgery is scheduled for next Thursday at Kettering’s main campus, but North doesn’t know if that will happen.This past Tuesday, she got a call from Kettering Health Middletown cancelling her pre-surgical testing.”I’ve been trying diligently since Tuesday to reschedule this testing because I know I can’t have the surgery until the testing is done,” North said. But, phone lines have down, patients haven’t been able access to my chart to message doctors, and even a drive to the hospital was unsuccessful for North.”I took off work. I went all the way up to Kettering Hospital in Kettering and the volunteer there said they didn’t have any other information,” North said. Kettering has repeatedly declined to confirm the type of cyberattack it’s dealing with. However, the health care group’s CEO, Mike Gentry, said in a statement released on Friday, “In healthcare, these events often range from 10 to 20 days in duration.”In the meantime, patients like North are left waiting with their health hanging in the balance.”It’s got me very scared. I’m afraid I’ll have a stroke before I can have the surgery, and that’s the last thing I want to do is have a stroke,” North said. Kettering established a temporary phone line for patients with urgent clinical questions, staffed by Kettering Health registered nurses.That number is 937-600-6879.Due to the exceedingly high volume, Kettering asked for patience as teams work to connect with each caller.
A cyberattack has thrown Kettering Health into crisis, shutting down systems, canceling appointments, and cutting off communication with patients.
“Oh, it’s very scary,” said Jamie Rodgers North.
The timing of the cyberattack couldn’t have been worse for North.
“I recently found out I have an 80 percent blockage in my left carotid artery, which means I’m very high risk of a stroke, possibly heart attack,” North said.
Surgery is scheduled for next Thursday at Kettering’s main campus, but North doesn’t know if that will happen.
This past Tuesday, she got a call from Kettering Health Middletown cancelling her pre-surgical testing.
“I’ve been trying diligently since Tuesday to reschedule this testing because I know I can’t have the surgery until the testing is done,” North said.
But, phone lines have down, patients haven’t been able access to my chart to message doctors, and even a drive to the hospital was unsuccessful for North.
“I took off work. I went all the way up to Kettering Hospital in Kettering and the volunteer there said they didn’t have any other information,” North said.
Kettering has repeatedly declined to confirm the type of cyberattack it’s dealing with. However, the health care group’s CEO, Mike Gentry, said in a statement released on Friday, “In healthcare, these events often range from 10 to 20 days in duration.”
In the meantime, patients like North are left waiting with their health hanging in the balance.
“It’s got me very scared. I’m afraid I’ll have a stroke before I can have the surgery, and that’s the last thing I want to do is have a stroke,” North said.
Kettering established a temporary phone line for patients with urgent clinical questions, staffed by Kettering Health registered nurses.
That number is 937-600-6879.
Due to the exceedingly high volume, Kettering asked for patience as teams work to connect with each caller.
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