Healthcare Advisory: Ascension Suffers Cyberattack | Healthcare

Ascension spokesman David Leaverton confirmed this post that the organization detected “unusual activity” on Wednesday, which was later determined to be a cyberattack.

“At this time, we are continuing to investigate the situation,” the organization wrote in a statement. “We responded immediately, commencing our investigation and activating our remedial measures. Access to some systems has been interrupted while this process continues.”

The organization has hired Mandiant, a Virginia-based cybersecurity company and subsidiary of Google, to investigate the attack. Ascension is still investigating whether patient information was stolen. The cybersecurity incident is part of a nationwide trend, particularly at the Nashville-based company Change healthcare.

Nashville-based mobile breast imaging specialist Onsite Women’s Health has named Michael McCooey chief financial officer. He will replace Michael Rockwal, who will retire in May after 15 years with the company.

McCooey was most recently vice president of finance at Onsite and previously served as CFO for Wellpath in Nashville. Previously, he spent the majority of his career working in international markets for Asurion.

McCooey is a graduate of Boston College and Vanderbilt University.

Jillian Wright, CEO of Onsite Women’s Health, who was appointed to the position in December, told the post It plans to add 30 new locations by 2024. The company serves 120 locations in 25 states.

“As an existing member of our leadership team, Michael McCooey has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the success of our company – both operationally and financially,” Wright said.

“His commitment to improving women’s healthcare while keeping our financial foundation strong is a testament to his suitability for the role of CFO. I am confident that he will be able to transition seamlessly into this position and continue the development of our company.”

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have linked a widely used herbicide to a birth defect.

Building on state and county studies, VUMC researchers found in a nationwide study that atrazine use was associated with an increased risk of gastroschisis, which causes a fetus’s intestines to grow outside the body.

Atrazine is the second most commonly used herbicide in the United States and is used in commercial agriculture and for weed control on highways and residential lawns. It is banned or is being phased out in 44 countries, including the European Union.

“Gastroschisis is a common diagnosis in neonatal intensive care units, but the underlying cause of this birth defect remains unclear,” he said Stephen Patrick, Director of Child Health Policy. “Our study found that counties that used more atrazine, a commonly used herbicide, also had higher rates of gastroschisis. While this is just one piece of the puzzle, it builds on existing research that has raised concerns about the herbicide.”