Hospital Struggling Amid Increased Caseload: Emergency Room Demand Soaring Following Ameos Hack
In the picturesque town of Quedlinburg, the Harz Hospital has been a target of repeated burglaries over the past few months, resulting in 100,000 Euros worth of damage. However, there is no reported evidence of ongoing or recent IT problems at AMEOS clinics in the Harz region, nor any impact on other hospitals such as the Harz clinic.
Investigations are currently underway, with two suspects in custody in relation to the burglary series. Despite the incidents, AMEOS clinics continue to be accessible, although the company has not specified which services are currently not being provided.
The absence of IT issues at AMEOS clinics is supported by various sources. Global and European cyber attack trackers for the years 2024–2025 do not list any entries for AMEOS clinics, and journal and hospital association pages focusing on AMEOS clinics, such as AMEOS Hospital Halberstadt, primarily discuss medical or research topics, not IT issues or clinical disruptions.
Meanwhile, the Harz Hospital is grappling with increased strain due to communication difficulties and an influx of additional patients, mainly accident victims, people with heart problems, and other internal medicine cases. This increased workload is approximately 40%, placing additional pressure on the hospital's resources.
The additional patients are a direct result of the IT issues at AMEOS clinics, which have led to postponed control appointments and surgeries for some patients, causing them to seek care at the Harz clinic. The dedicated team at the Quedlinburg Harz clinic's emergency room is managing the increased workload despite staffing shortages due to vacation and illness.
The Harz Hospital is also concerned about the impact of the planned hospital reform on patient care, as travel distances could significantly increase. The hospital plans to treat its inpatient patients in the future only in Blankenburg, where it also plans to build a central hospital.
Elsewhere in Sachsen-Anhalt, discussions are ongoing about the preservation of the hospital location in Staßfurt. Hospitals in the region could improve through more efficiency and support to overcome distress, according to an expert from Magdeburg.
In a separate development, international authorities have disrupted a botnet associated with the pro-Russian hacker group "NoName057(16)". The disrupted botnet is reported to be responsible for attacks on various websites, including ministries in Sachsen-Anhalt. Sachsen-Anhalt's deputy data protection officer, Albert Cohaus, confirmed a report on a possible data protection breach by Ameos. However, there is no official statement from Ameos on whether data was stolen in the cyberattack or about the outlook for the coming days and weeks in terms of care.
- Investigations concerning the burglary series in Quedlinburg's Harz Hospital are ongoing, with two suspects in custody.
- AMEOS clinics in the Harz region continue to operate, although some services may be affected due to the ongoing burglaries.
- There is no reported evidence of IT problems at AMEOS clinics as per various sources, including cyber attack trackers and hospital association pages.
- The Harz Hospital is facing increased strain due to communication issues, an influx of additional patients, and staffing shortages.
- The increased patient volume at the Harz Hospital is attributed to postponed appointments and surgeries at AMEOS clinics.
- The Harz Hospital is worried about the potential impact of upcoming hospital reforms on patient care, particularly travel distances.
- Hospitals in Sachsen-Anhalt may improve with increased efficiency and support, according to an expert in Magdeburg.
- International authorities have disrupted a botnet linked to the pro-Russian hacker group "NoName057(16)", responsible for attacks on various websites, including ministries in Sachsen-Anhalt.
- Ameos is under scrutiny following a data protection breach report by Sachsen-Anhalt's deputy data protection officer, Albert Cohaus, but the company has yet to make an official statement on the matter.
