One of the largest healthcare systems in America, Mass General Brigham, has canceled all non-urgent visits, procedures, and surgeries due to a computer outage linked to the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike.
According to The Gateway Pundit significant “IT outages” are being experienced worldwide, affecting banking systems, healthcare systems, emergency services, and airline communications.
Mass General Brigham, which serves 2.5 million patients annually across its 15 hospitals and clinics, has suspended all non-urgent visits, procedures, and surgeries.
“We have dedicated every available resource to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our patients,” stated Mass General Brigham, as reported by the Daily Mail. “Our highest priority is ensuring that our patients receive the safest care possible.”
The healthcare giant reassured the public that they continue to provide care for all patients currently admitted to their hospitals.
A notice released on their website clarified the situation further:
“A major worldwide software outage has affected many of our systems today. This means we are not able to access our clinical systems, including patient health records and scheduling.
As a result, all non-urgent visits at all Mass General Brigham hospitals and clinics are canceled for today, Friday, July 19, 2024. If you have a non-urgent visit scheduled, a care team member will reach out to you to reschedule.
Please do not call to reschedule today. We are open for urgent appointments and procedures, and our emergency rooms remain open. We are working to resolve this issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
More from Daily Mail:
The outage is believed to be from a software update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, a tool used to protect against hacking threats, and is not believed to be linked to a malicious cyberattack.
While paper charts were the norm for decades in healthcare, the advent of technology in the medical field made them obsolete, with nearly all day-to-day operations conducted via computer programs.
In one TikTok video, a woman in a breathing mask suggested her electronic medical records could not be accessed, leaving her unable to get the correct medications.
In another video, staff can be heard shouting in panicked voices as the camera pans to a computer showing a so-called ‘screen of death.’
Meanwhile, a nurse in California detailed how staff have had to revert to pen and paper and using iPhones to treat patients and prescribe drugs, raising the risk of errors.
Additionally, 911 and non-emergency call centers across multiple states are not working correctly, adding to the chaos.
This is a developing story.