A cyberattack has forced Community Health Northwest Florida to temporarily shut down its systems, impacting healthcare services across its 17 clinic locations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The nonprofit health provider discovered the attack during the Christmas holiday, prompting an immediate response including taking systems offline and engaging forensic engineers to investigate the breach. The incident has affected critical infrastructure including phones, email, and internet connectivity.
While primary care and pediatric appointments continue with some limitations, several key services have been suspended, including dental care, pharmacy operations, mammography, and x-ray services.
CEO Chandra Smiley stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting compromise of patient data among the organization's 55,000 medical records.
As the region's only federally qualified health center (FQHC), Community Health Northwest Florida serves a critical function in providing accessible and affordable healthcare to underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay.
The organization is working to restore services while maintaining security of its systems. Patients are advised to contact their healthcare providers for updates about scheduled appointments and available services during this disruption.
This incident highlights the growing cybersecurity challenges faced by healthcare organizations as they work to protect sensitive patient information while maintaining critical medical services for their communities.