Jewish Gen restoring services after cyber-attack

MONTREAL – Following October’s cyber-intrusion into the digital information systems of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, the first steps have been taken by the Information Resources and Digital Health teams to re-establish service, as required. The announcement was made by the Jewish General Hospital, part of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, on its website.

Safety precautions are also being implemented to prevent any future interference. A return to normal connectivity will continue through November and December, the hospital said in a news release.

Ongoing analysis shows no indication that any data – as it relates to the users of healthcare and social services or to staff – has been compromised.

Among the top priorities is to focus on establishing a connection path for critical applications that are used by staff. Key administrative systems for CIUSSS directorates such as Human Resources, Finance and Logistics will also be restored as quickly as possible.

Throughout this incident, the patience and professionalism of staff have been – and continue to be – crucially important, since they have worked diligently to serve users with little, if any, disruption to the normal routine. This has been especially important, given the added complications of coping with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In October, the Jewish General Hospital disclosed that CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, of which it is part, was experiencing difficulties with its information systems. As a preventive measure, internet connectivity as well as external and remote access to its networks were suspended.

As access to patients’ records and data were limited, frontline services were been slowed down – but not interrupted – while the situation was put under investigation, with the support of the Cyber-Security Team at the Ministry of Health and Social Services.