Cyberattack targets hospitals across U.S., shutting down emergency rooms

A recent cyberattack has targeted a major health care provider, resulting int he shutdown of emergency rooms and the redirection of ambulances.

Prospect Medical Holdings of Los Angeles, which maintains facilities across the nation, suffered a breach of its computer systems, CBS reported. 

"Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. recently experienced a data security incident that has disrupted our operations. Upon learning of this, we took our systems offline to protect them and launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity specialists," the company stated. "While our investigation continues, we are focused on addressing the pressing needs of our patients as we work diligently to return to normal operations as quickly as possible."

American Hospital Association national advisor for cybersecurity and risk John Riggi said that hospitals would revert to using paper systems until the system comes back online.

"These are threat-to-life crimes, which risk not only the safety of the patients within the hospital, but also risk the safety of the entire community that depends on the availability of that emergency department to be there," he added, according to the Associated Press.

It remains unclear who orchestrated the attack.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.