Brockton Hospital Recovers from Cyber Incident

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital has reached a critical milestone in restoring services following a cyber incident that prompted the temporary shutdown of its information systems. The precautionary measure, taken last week, led to a significant reliance on manual processes, including paper records and faxed communications, to maintain patient care.

Bob Haffey, chief executive, highlighted the round-the-clock efforts of the staff in achieving this recovery phase. Despite the progress, some systems remain offline, and a phased restoration is underway, prioritizing stability and security. The hospital is collaborating with external cybersecurity experts to conduct a forensic investigation into the breach.

During the outage, the emergency department continued to operate, though challenges persisted in areas like prescription fulfillment. Nearby hospitals, including South Shore Hospital and Boston Medical Center South, assisted by absorbing diverted patients and emergency calls. Full system restoration is anticipated to take a couple of weeks as part of a careful, phased approach.

This cyber incident adds to recent challenges for Brockton Hospital, which also endured a fire in 2023. The event is part of a broader trend of cyberattacks affecting healthcare facilities, with notable incidents in 2024 impacting prescription services and hospital operations.