In a video message on social media, St. Margaret’s chairwoman Suzanne Stahl announced that OSF HealthCare will acquire the hospital in Peru, which will help pay some of the Spring Valley location’s debts.
St. Margaret’s Health will also close clinics in Henry, LaSalle and Streator and will sell other assets not included in the OSF HealthCare transaction.
St. Margaret’s Health is the first healthcare facility to link its closure to a ransomware attack, but this is not surprising, ForgeRock VP Steve Gwizdala said in an emailed comment.
“Healthcare continues to be one of the most attractive targets for cyberattackers, and the number of breaches affecting the industry is increasing each year,” Gwizdala said.
What should be noted, KnowBe4’s Erich Kron says, is that the ransomware attack is only one of the reasons forcing the hospital to close.
“Unfortunately, while these attacks are not often the primary reason for an organization to shut down, the significant additional stress and financial impact caused by one of these attacks can be a major factor,” Kron pointed out.
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