St. Tammany Hospital is experiencing a significant network disruption affecting its telecommunications systems, including telephones, while an employee tells APR•St Tammany the problems inside the system extend much further.
In an official statement Thursday, St. Tammany Health System confirmed it is experiencing what it called “network instability.” The health system said a diagnostic investigation has found no indication that the disruption is a cyber security event and said the system remains operational while crews work to restore connectivity.
An employee who asked to remain anonymous described much more extensive problems internally, telling APR•St Tammany that staff are working from paper charts and currently have no working phones, fax, computers or monitors. The employee also reported being unable to electronically access lab results, patient histories, medications or allergy information.
“We’re working out of straight paper charts… we are completely in the dark and have no end in sight.”
APR•St Tammany has not independently confirmed each of those internal system limitations. However, the employee’s account comes as St. Tammany Health System publicly acknowledges the ongoing network disruption.
For nonemergency scheduling, patients are being directed to contact their provider through MyChart. Anyone needing emergency care should call 911 or visit the Emergency Department in Covington or the freestanding Emergency Department in Mandeville.
The Express Care location in Covington and Express Care Kids clinic in Mandeville are currently closed because of the disruption.
St. Tammany Health System has not announced an estimated time for full connectivity to be restored.
