A cyberattack is partly to blame for St. Margaret’s Health closing all operations

Two rural Catholic hospitals in Illinois, St. Margaret’s Health in Peru and Spring Valley, are closing all operations due to a 2021 cyberattack. The closure is the first known to link its closure to a cyberattack. The hospitals were hit with a ransomware attack, which halted their ability to submit claims to insurers, Medicare, or Medicaid, leading to financial difficulties. Many rural hospitals in the US have already closed due to various pressures, including low reimbursement, staffing shortages, and regulatory barriers.