how automated healthcare fails, how you'd know, and what to do at each tier — every claim sourced, reviewed continuously
On 8 October 2026 a network outage took some computers and digital devices offline across Mass General Brigham. Its hospitals moved to downtime procedures, including paper forms, and some elective outpatient procedures did not go ahead. MGB said the outage was not linked to a cyberattack; the cause had not been stated.
TierComputers went offline and hospitals moved to downtime procedures, with Cooley Dickinson using paper forms, while care continued; no loss of power or phones is reported. How tiers are assigned.
At about noon on Thursday 8 October 2026, staff at Massachusetts General Hospital received a notice of 'sporadic network outages across all sites', and the outage temporarily moved Mass General Brigham's hospitals and care teams off computers, NBC10 Boston reported. A spokesperson told the Boston Globe that 'A digital disruption caused some computers and other digital devices across Mass General Brigham to go offline' and that the outage was not connected to a cyberattack. MGB moved to downtime procedures, which can include paper forms, and set up an incident command team. At Cooley Dickinson Hospital, an MGB hospital, a spokesperson told the Daily Hampshire Gazette that staff used 'paper forms and alternative ways of communication' and that 'processes for updating electronic records are in place once systems are restored.' MGB said 'Most patient care continued, except for some electives', and some elective procedures were cancelled. NBC10 Boston reported that sites were coming back online by about 5:50 p.m. The Gazette reported that most systems were running again on Thursday evening, that a few issues were fixed on Friday morning, and that 'The exact cause is still unclear.' The sources do not state how many procedures were affected or whether ambulances were diverted.[1,2,3]
None documented; some elective procedures were cancelled.
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