UMMC clinics remain closed, elective procedures canceled amid cyberattack recovery

The University of Mississippi Medical Center will keep its clinics closed and cancel all elective procedures Monday and Tuesday, the health system announced. The closures are part of efforts to recover from a ransomware attack that compromised its IT infrastructure last week.

Emergency department services remain available at UMMC hospitals and at community hospitals in Jackson, Grenada, Madison County, and Holmes County, according to a statement from the hospital. Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor, said the system is using every resource to resolve the issue safely and effectively.

Federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have been assisting Mississippi’s largest public hospital since Thursday. The cyberattack disabled computer systems that hold patients’ electronic health records, which are used for appointments, medical histories, test results, and billing. The disruption also affected county public health departments reliant on the same systems.

UMMC employs roughly 10,000 people and operates seven hospitals and 35 clinics statewide. Its annual budget is approximately $2 billion. The health system’s only Level 1 trauma center continues to serve patients using manual procedures and paper records, according to Woodward. Staff have adapted by documenting inpatient operations and patient orders manually.

Woodward confirmed the attack was carried out through ransomware but said the full extent of the damage remains unknown. She added that the system has “stopped the bleeding” and is working to restore full operations.

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