Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network confirmed Thursday that it is "working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont Department of Public safety to investigate a now confirmed cyberattack that has affected some of our systems. We expect that it will take some time to restore and we are working as quickly as possible to return to normal operations.
"The attack has caused variable impacts at each of our affiliates. Staff are continuing to follow well-practiced standby procedures to ensure safe patient care. We understand the difficulty this causes for our patients and the community and apologize for the impact. There have been some changes to patient appointments and we are attempting to reach those patients who have been affected. We will continue to provide systems and patient service updates when they are available."
The University of Vermont Health Network includes six hospitals in Vermont and upstate New York as well as the UVMHN Home Health and Hospice. All patient services are available at all the facilities except at the Burlington Medical Center where some procedures were canceled until at least Friday. The patient portal is also down for the time being.
The Vermont Department of Health is aware of the challenges being faced by the University of Vermont Medical Center and throughout the UVM Health Network.
VDH stated: "We are working in coordination with the State Emergency Operations Center to provide support for operations that impact patient care services, including testing and reporting of laboratory results. State health officials are also closely following the Health Network’s efforts to ensure patient transfer and related equipment operations."
"COVID-19 testing and reporting is our first priority. Vermonters can continue to receive COVID-19 testing through Health Department-led clinics. However, results reported through the UVMMC system will be impacted. The Health Department Laboratory is stepping up to fill gaps, and we are contacting our other lab partners for options to ensure that testing and reporting of results can continue smoothly.
"If you are looking for hospital specific information, please reach out to your hospital’s main phone lines to request assistance."
UVM Health Network Service Status
Alice Hyde Medical Center – Malone, NY
Maintaining all patient care services.
Central Vermont Medical Center – Berlin, VT
Maintaining all patient care services, but patients may experience delays
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital – Plattsburgh, NY
Maintaining all patient care services, but physician practice patients may experience slight delays.
Elizabethtown Community Hospital – Elizabethtown, NY
Maintaining all patient care services.
Porter Medical Center – Middlebury, VT
Maintaining all patient care services.
UVMHN Home Health and Hospice
Maintaining all patient and resident care services
UVM Medical Center – Burlington, VT
Rescheduling some elective procedures scheduled for Thursday, 10/29, with the hope of resuming procedures on Friday, 10/30.
**Access to the MyChart Patient Portal is currently unavailable**
https://www.uvmhealth.org/medcenter/news/update-system-wide-network-computer-issue
COVID-19 information, including where to find testing clinics can be found at healthvermont.gov/covid19.
About the Department of Health
We have been the state's public health agency for more than 130 years, working every day to protect and promote the health of Vermonters. Visit healthvermont.gov
Sources: Vermont Department of Health; UVMHN 10.29.2020