A cyberattack has forced Community Health Northwest Florida to shut down its systems across all 17 clinic locations, impacting healthcare services for thousands of residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The nonprofit health provider detected the breach during the Christmas holiday period, prompting an immediate response including bringing in forensic engineers to investigate the incident. The attack has disabled critical infrastructure including phone lines, email systems, and internet connectivity.
While some primary care and pediatric appointments continue, multiple essential services have been temporarily suspended, including dental care, pharmacy operations, mammography, and x-ray services.
CEO Chandra Smiley stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting any compromise of patient records, which include approximately 55,000 individual files.
As the region's only federally qualified health center, Community Health Northwest Florida serves a critical function in delivering accessible and affordable healthcare to underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay.
The organization's technical teams are working to restore services while maintaining security protocols. Patients are advised to contact their healthcare providers through alternative means until systems are fully operational.
The incident highlights the growing vulnerability of healthcare organizations to cyber threats and the widespread impact such attacks can have on community health services.