Major healthcare nonprofit Ascension said a cyberattack had interrupted its "clinical operations," prompting it to take measures to limit any impact on patient care. 

Cyberattack on Ascension Health System Hamper Patient Care

Ascension confirmed in a news release on Wednesday that "there has been a disruption to clinical operations," and they are still evaluating the duration and extent of the cyberattack. It advised its healthcare customers to temporarily disconnect from the company's network while the matter is being investigated.

On Wednesday, Ascension discovered suspicious activity on many of its computer systems, which prompted an investigation and notification of the authorities. According to CNN, an Ascension spokesperson assured the public that the nonprofit had taken measures to guarantee the safety of patient care delivery.

Ascension also said it would contact those impacted if sensitive patient data were exposed. The nonprofit's health system includes 140 hospitals and 40 senior living facilities throughout 19 states. 

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Cyberattack on Another American Healthcare Provider Occurred in February

This incident came after a cyberattack on another American healthcare provider earlier this year. In February, a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of US health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, disrupted pharmacy billing throughout the country and threatened to put several health providers out of business.

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty admitted to paying hackers a $22 million ransom last week.

Read More: UnitedHealth Reports Losses of $872 Million to Change Healthcare Cyberattack