On Sunday, December 1, 2024, PIH Health, headquartered in Whittier, California, experienced a ransomware attack that compromised a segment of its system. In response, the IT department proactively shut down the entire network to prevent further spread, impacting hospitals in Downey, Los Angeles, and Whittier, as well as outpatient facilities and home health agencies. This led to disruptions in communication channels, including phone and internet services. To mitigate these issues, phone lines were rerouted to operators at PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, ensuring continued functionality.
Despite the network shutdown, most in-person services remained operational, with patients advised to arrive slightly earlier for scheduled appointments due to the implementation of downtime procedures. PIH Health collaborated with third-party cyber forensic specialists to isolate the ransomware and is actively working to securely restore network systems. As of now, it is unclear if any patient information has been compromised, and there is no specified timeline for the full restoration of communication systems.
