Cyberattack Disrupts Community Health Northwest Florida Operations
Community Health Northwest Florida, a nonprofit health provider serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Florida, has been forced to take its systems offline following a cyberattack identified earlier this week. The incident has temporarily halted services at all 17 clinic sites, affecting critical systems including phones, email, and internet. While some appointments for primary care and pediatrics remain operational, dental, pharmacy, mammography, and x-ray services have been suspended. CEO Chandra Smiley assured the public that there is no evidence of patient data compromise among the 55,000 records maintained by the organization.
The attack occurred during the Christmas holiday, prompting a swift response that included hiring forensic engineers to assess the extent of the breach. As the only federally qualified health center (FQHC) in the area, Community Health Northwest Florida plays a vital role in providing accessible, affordable healthcare to underserved populations. FQHCs like this one offer comprehensive services to medically underserved areas, emphasizing equitable care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.