June 7, 2024
[UPDATED] Ascension Affiliated Healthcare Provider Partners
Over the past month, Ascension IT has been working diligently alongside industry-leading cybersecurity experts in their efforts to safely restore systems across their network. Alverno has been closely following updates and corresponding with Ascension leadership and IT teams.
We are pleased to share that we are beginning to restore our interface connections with Ascension’s systems in a phased approach over the next several days. The reconnection process has officially begun, with the reconnection of Meditech as of this afternoon. Our IT team has developed a tentative schedule and will be focused on working to reconnect the rest of the systems over the weekend.Â
Thank you for your continued support and patience throughout this situation. As always, please watch our website for further updates and follow updates from Ascension.
May 13, 2024
Ascension Affiliated Healthcare Provider Partners
Following the Wednesday, May 8th cyber incident, Ascension is diligently investigating and addressing the event, working closely with industry leading cybersecurity experts and law enforcement bodies.
As Ascension’s restoration work continues with progress, they have sited that they expect the process will take time. As such, Alverno and other external business partners are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Ascension IT and leadership as to when it will be safe to reconnect our systems. Until such a time, our systems will remain disconnected, and we will continue to operate under our back-up plan as previously described.
We are actively realigning resources to lessen the delays incurred by the manual process we are now utilizing. Leadership is evaluating staffing resources and shifting staff across the system to accommodate the affected Ascension laboratory sites. Thus far, we have been successfully faxing results to providers as they become available thanks to our established faxing network.
If you need any assistance, please reach out to our client services department at 800-937-5521.
We are grateful for your continued patience and cooperation as we do not know when the systems will be reconnected. We will provide updates as we can, and encourage you to follow updates from Ascension.
May 9, 2024
Ascension Affiliated Healthcare Provider Partners
On Wednesday, May 8th, Ascension notified its business partners of a cyber incident affecting their systems. Ascension recommended that all partners, including Alverno, disconnect from their system.
Alverno promptly disconnected its applications from the Ascension system yesterday and immediately implemented its back-up plan. In order to process laboratory orders, you will need to enter the order into your EMR and provide a physical copy of the order to patients to bring into an Alverno location. Once resulted, Alverno will fax results to the number on file, or send to the in-office printer when available. When systems are reconnected, Alverno will populate electronic records with results collected during the back-up period. We are pleased to report that as of this morning, our back-up plan is operational and working well. There are no delays in turnaround times and results are being successfully faxed.
At this time, there is no indication that Alverno systems have been compromised and we continue to work with our Ascension partners to ensure patient care is not disrupted and client/patient data is safeguarded. Ascension has retained a third party to assist in their investigation and have notified the proper authorities.
If you need any assistance, please reach out to our client services department at 800-937-5521.
We are grateful for your continued patience and cooperation as we do not know when the systems will be reconnected. We will provide updates as we can, and encourage you to follow updates from Ascension.