Global IT Outage Impact at UVM Health Network
update: Sunday, July, 21, 2024 - 9:00 Pm
UVM Health Network teams continue to make progress restoring systems following the global CrowdStrike cybersecurity protection software outage. Network IT teams have worked hard to limit the impact on patient care. Nearly all functions across the network have returned to normal, and patient care should not be impacted by the ongoing restoration work.
Patients should arrive at appointments as scheduled tomorrow, and seek emergency care as needed.
update: Friday, July, 19, 2024 - 6:30 Pm
UVM Health Network teams continue to make progress restoring systems following the global CrowdStrike cybersecurity protection software outage. Leaders are grateful to the many staff who have been working nonstop since learning of the outage overnight to ensure the organization is able to provide the highest quality care possible, and to the staff who are providing that care with patience and dedication.
Progress and continuing impacts include:
- Outpatient phlebotomy at UVM Medical Center is back up and running.
- Important systems needed for scheduling clinical staff through the weekend have been restored.
- Many phone lines, applications, and programs have been restored and are operating normally. Some phone lines remain to be fixed.
- IT has been supporting colleagues throughout the day in restoring computers that were displaying the “blue screen” error message, which many other organizations experienced as well. However, some remote users are still seeing the message, and will be supported in restoring their computers.
Over the coming days, work will continue to restore all applications, with a continued focus on clinical areas. Timing of full recovery is largely dependent upon progress of third-party vendors as they work to restore their applications.
update: Friday, July, 19, 2024 - 12:00 Pm
Organizational and clinical leaders across the UVM Health Network in Vermont and northern New York have been working throughout the morning to get a clear picture of impacts from the global IT outage caused by a fault in an update on the CrowdStrike cybersecurity protection software. Our focus is on ensuring safe patient care and troubleshooting outage-related issues as they arise. Emergency departments remain open, and anyone experiencing an emergency should seek care at the hospital.
Most procedures and appointments are continuing, with some delays. Certain elective procedures and infusions have been rescheduled, and patients have been contacted. In almost all cases, unless patients hear otherwise from their provider, they should arrive as planned for their procedure or appointment.
Exceptions are below:
UVM Medical Center (Burlington, Vt.):
Outpatient phlebotomy is unable to accept patients today, and unable to contact patients with appointments. Patients will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
UVM Medical Center dental clinic is offline and all patients have been cancelled for the day.
Porter Medical Center (Middlebury, Vt.):
Phones at certain primary care clinics are not working properly, so patients may have trouble getting through. However, patients with scheduled primary care appointments should arrive as planned unless contacted by their provider.
Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin, Vt.):
Outpatient phlebotomy: Patients should not seek phlebotomy appointments today, and those with appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Radiology is also currently not able to take patients, but expects to be functional by 1 pm.
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (Plattsburgh, N.Y.):
Some physicians' offices are experiencing issues with their phone system, but patients should go to appointments as scheduled today.
Patient portal MyChart is functioning normally.
We will share additional updates as they are available.
update: Friday, July, 19, 2024 - 7:30 am
The global IT outage related to cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike has impacted some UVM Health Network systems. Emergency departments are open, and anyone experiencing an emergency should seek care at the hospital.
Clinical leaders are assessing whether certain procedures or appointments need to be delayed. Unless patients hear otherwise from their provider, they should arrive as planned for their procedure or appointment.
UVM Health Network IT teams are working to implement the fix that has been provided by the vendor, and are gradually bringing impacted systems back online. Organizational and clinical leaders are meeting frequently to ensure patient safety and coordinate care, and we will provide updates as they are available.