Emergency Management Measures in Place As Schneider Regional Wrangles with Ransomware Attack

The recent cyberattack on Schneider Regional Medical Center has brought local and federal law enforcement into the picture, according to the medical center’s chief executive officer. Some details about Sunday’s ransomware attack were shared with lawmakers during Wednesday’s hearing before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Budget and Finance.

Schneider Regional CEO Tina Comissiong and Information Technology Officer Brandon Richardson told the committee that efforts to restore the system were still in the works, and perpetrators are demanding an undisclosed sum to remove impediments placed on the system. But both medical center officials say systems at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital are up and running, thanks to an emergency operations plan developed well in advance.

“The systems were shut down to allow the ITT team, the federal and mobile authorities to investigate the attack. We instituted a disaster recovery plan that we have in place, and we are currently on downtime procedures while the system is being investigated and brought back up in a safe way,” Comissiong said.

Committee Chairwoman Donna Frett-Gregory asked about the extent of the attack. “ … As far as you know, that’s both hospitals or just the hospital you’re managing?”