Ascension contacting patients after data was compromised in ransomware attack

KANSAS (KSNT) - Earlier this year, hospitals with the Ascension network were hit with a ransomware attack that has left a lasting impact. Now, the company is reaching out to patients who may have had their personal data compromised by the situation.

Ascension shared a new update on Dec. 19 regarding the cyber attack and will now contact people whose data was impacted. Ascension said the type of data is varied but can include medical, payment, insurance, government identification and other personal information.

"Although patient data was involved, importantly, there remains no evidence that data was taken from our Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other clinical systems, where our full patient records are securely stored," Ascension wrote in the press release.

Ascension has started to send letters to people who could've had their personal information stolen. The company said those letters should arrive in the mail in two to three weeks. Ascension manages hospitals and clinics in Wichita, Pittsburg, Wamego and Manhattan in Kansas.

Ascension reminds patients that systems have been restored in a "safe and secure fashion" and that downtime procedures have ended. If you have any other questions about services being offered at Ascension institutions in Kansas, click here.

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