Malware in a Georgia hospital’s computer system forced it to turn away patients, highlighting the problems and vulnerabilities of computerized systems.
The computer infection started to cause problems at the Gwinnett Medical Center last Wednesday and continued to spread, until the hospital was forced to send all non-emergency admissions to other hospitals.
More doctors and nurses than ever are using mobile devices in healthcare, and hospitals are making patient records computerized for easier, convenient access over piles of paperwork.
However, as more hospitals shift away from paper records, malware that locks up a computer system may also make it more difficult for doctors to get hold of the records they need to treat their patients effectively.
By Friday night the outbreak was under control, and by Saturday, the hospital was back to using its computers. But the hospital still isn’t in the clear, since the source of the outbreak isn’t known and the malware hasn’t been identified.
The hospital said the problem didn’t affect patients’ care because their information was safe.
The problem likely was caused by a worm infection, which would have spread rapidly across the hospital’s network. Foul play isn’t suspected, and the problem may be caused by something as simple as a USB drive brought into the facility by an employee.
But as hackers routinely invade computer systems in critical infrastructure like power facilities, water plants and government contractors, hospitals may also be vulnerable points of attack, especially since they use Windows-based systems, which are more susceptible to hackers’ efforts.
The Georgia hospital wasn’t the first to suffer from malware, and it likely won’t be the last. But if malware and viruses, whether introduced through accidental infection or deliberate intent, can shut down hospitals, stronger security plans may become necessary. Back-up systems, including paper-based records, may become a requirement, so patient care doesn’t suffer along with the computers.
Want the scoop on mobile news? Subscribe to our Facebook or Twitter page. This post originally appeared at Mobiledia.
Article source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/mobiledia/2011/12/19/computer-virus-shuts-down-georgia-hospital/
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