By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Two Hospital PR Case Examples: One Bizarre, One Just Crazy
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Two Hospital PR Case Examples: One Bizarre, One Just Crazy
BusinesseHealthNews

Two Hospital PR Case Examples: One Bizarre, One Just Crazy

Stewart Gandolf
Stewart Gandolf
Share
5 Min Read
hospital cyber attack
SHARE

By Stephen Gregg

Contents
  • Hollywood Hospital ‘Victim of Cyber Attack’
  • After a hospital reportedly pulls ads, Georgia paper says it won’t back down.
  • Author information

By Stephen Gregg

hospital cyber attack[First of two parts] Two “PR-painful” news stories caught our attention recently. They are the kind of thing that makes the job of hospital public relations and community relations a challenge and headache…but, they illustrate why there are times that hospitals need professional help.

For the hospitals involved— South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, GA, and Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles—the news ranged from bad to bizarre. Likely, the administrators, marketing managers, communications professionals and public relations executives are having a challenging time.

More Read

Online Messaging Can Improve Support Group Relationships
Medical Futurist Dr. Bertalan Meskó [PODCAST]
Why Doctors Need To Be Vigilant In Protecting Patient Data
Can Regional TEDMED Communities Cultivate and Implement Healthcare Innovation?
How a Cardboard Box Pays Tribute to 9/11

So, for case examples and helpful lessons for all of us, imagine being greeted by these headlines:

Hollywood Hospital ‘Victim of Cyber Attack’

After a hospital reportedly pulls ads, Georgia paper says it won’t back down.

Case Examples: How would you handle these PR challenges?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A radically different sort of community relations and “internal emergency” issue put the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in a troubling news spotlight of “a cyber attack for ransom.”

News coverage by LA’s NBC outlet began this way:

“A Southern California hospital was a victim of a cyber attack, interfering with day-to-day operations, the hospital’s president and CEO said. Staff at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center began noticing “significant IT issues and declared an internal emergency” on Friday, said hospital President and CEO Allen Stefanek.” If there was a small upside in any of this, the Channel 4 reports emphasized, “patient care is not being compromised.”

A hospital IT shutdown is bad news, but what makes this event even more bizarre is: “A doctor who did not want to be identified said the system was hacked and was being held for ransom.” A subsequent headline: “LA Hospital Paid 17K Ransom to Hackers of Its Computer Network.”

“The chief executive of a Los Angeles hospital said it paid a ransom in bitcoins equivalent to about $17,000 to hackers who infiltrated and disabled its computer network. Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center CEO Allen Stefanek said in a statement Wednesday that paying the ransom of 40 bitcoins was ‘the quickest and most efficient way to restore our systems and administrative functions.’ He said the hospital did it in the interest of restoring normal operations.”

Cyber attacks on medical records and systems are increasingly common, and the industry is constantly looking for better security. In addition, every hospital should be looking at their Emergency Plan and consider updates that would contend with the operational and public relations contingencies.

That said, this is the first major story we’ve seen where a cyber ransom was demanded and paid. Are you prepared for that twist? How would you handle this sort of campus-wide crisis? We’d like to hear from you.

And then there’s the hospital-newspaper feud in Georgia that follows in the second part of this series next week titled: Another Hospital PR Case: When Media Relations Go Sour.

If you prefer confidential, one-to-one professional advice about public relations strategies, let’s schedule a PR and marketing consultation. Call me today at 800-656-0907 ext. 801.

Author information

Stephen Gregg
Stephen Gregg
Stephen Gregg, Account Supervisor / Public Relations Strategist, provides clients with account management and strategic marketing and public relations counsel on subjects such as media and community relations, message development and branding. In his career, he has represented large medical clients such as hospitals, medical groups, professional associations and insurance companies. In addition, Stephen has worked with clients in consumer packaged goods, fast-casual restaurants, real estate, and local public affairs. Stephen has a formal education in public relations and marketing from California State University, Fullerton and received his MBA from Concordia University, Irvine.
 

The post Two Hospital PR Case Examples: One Bizarre, One Just Crazy appeared first on Healthcare Success.

TAGGED:cyberattackpublic relationsransomware
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

beyond the buzz healthcare social media
Social Media

Beyond the Buzz: How to Plan Your Healthcare Tweets for Maximum Impact

May 17, 2014
GeriatricsNews

Sinai Center for Geriatric Surgery Marks New Era in Specialized Treatment of Elderly Patients

December 17, 2012
eHealthMedical RecordsTechnology

Three Practical Uses For Wearables In EHR

August 26, 2019

Moving mHealth to the Next Frontier: Aligning Patients, Physicians, Healthcare Providers & Payers

June 10, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?