Akumin, a South Florida-based company that offers outpatient radiology and oncology exams, has had its computer system due to a cyberattack, rendering patients unable to take exams and doctors unable to view images for diagnosis.
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Akumin provides X-ray and radiology services to approximately 1,000 hospitals and health systems in 48 states. It has offices in Lake Worth Beach, Wellington and Boca Raton. Its headquarters are in Plantation.
In Lake Worth's Akumin Beach, a customer named Saul Rivera was unable to help his sick wife.
Mr. Rivera said: “I’m trying to make an appointment for my wife and it’s not possible.”
Outside the entrance to Akumin’s Lake Worth Beach office, a sign warns patients: “We are experiencing a security incident with our systems. As a precautionary measure, we have disabled our systems. We are unable to see you for your appointment at this time, but we will call you to reschedule your appointment once our systems are back up.”
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Dow Jones News Service reports that Akumin fell victim to a ransomware last week.
Alan Crowetz, cybersecurity and owner of Infostream, said: “This is a nightmare in my world.”
It was reported that patients are likely afraid that their medical or personal information has been compromised, adding that there could be consequences if doctors have to wait to see a patient's X-rays or tests.
Saul Rivera hopes that Akumin will get its systems back up and running.
So far, the Akumin company has not made any comment regarding the incident.
The cyberattack affecting Akumin, a leading medical services provider, has created a host of problems for patients seeking medical care. The situation is particularly unfortunate, as patients are forced to deal with the additional pressure and anxiety caused by the cyberattack, on top of the health problem they may be experiencing.
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Specifically, this cyberattack can negatively impact the delivery of medical care and its timeliness, making the process for patients.
The problems patients face due to cyberbullying include:
- Delays in service delivery: The cyberattack may have caused serious delays in the delivery of medical services, significantly delaying treatment . This may lead to further complications in their health.
- Unavailability of medical data: This cyberattack could have destroyed or made it impossible to access vital medical data and patient records, hampering the ability of doctors to provide effective care.
- Lack of trust: Patients may lose their trust in Akumin as a reliable healthcare provider, with the effect of being forced to look for alternative options for their medical care.
The dire situation the medical provider has found itself in after the cyberattack demonstrates the growing need for greater attention and investment in cybersecurity.
Source: wptv
